Feb 01, 2014 | pettigrewb | 1077 views
Major Bantams moving onto Round 2 of OMHA's
The Gaviller & Company Jr. Attack Major Bantams played 2 solid games @ Hespeler in a 18 hour span and will be facing Woolwich in the best of 3 series in the next round of the OMHA's.
The Gaviller & Company Jr. Attack Bantams who finished in 7th during the regular season, headed into the regular season 2nd place home rink of the Hespeler Shamrocks and their BIG ice surface to play 2 games and needed 1 win to advance to the next round of the OMHA's.
Friday nights game was a fast paced, hard hitting and well played game by both teams. The 1st period saw both teams trade hits and chances but after 1 period there was no score. Hespeler eventually opened the scoring with 5 minutes left in the 2nd and then potted a 2nd goal 40 seconds later and held a 2-0 lead after 2. Owen Sound made it close with a nice power play goal off the stick of Matthew Lyall, with assists going to Brady Brown and Andrew Lavergne, but it was not enough on this night. Owen Sound battled hard all night long, but the Hespeler goalie made some great saves which was the difference on the night. Jack Armstrong played a solid game between the pipes for Owen Sound stopping 22 of 25 shots he faced including several big pad saves to keep it close throughout. Final score Hespeler 3 Owen Sound 1.
Saturdays game was a BEAUTY Tilt......Both teams knew a win meant you head into the 2nd round of the OMHA's and a loss meant your OMHA's are done. The Owen Sounders whoI believe have never made it past OMHA round robin play before, came out of the gate strong and played a complete 2 way game from the goalie out today. Like the night before, Owen Sound battled hard all night long, but the difference today for Owen Sound was the solid penalty kill and relentless fore-check. Owen Sound had to kill 3 or 4, 5 on 3 situations and they did with confidence, precision and accuracy. Owen Sound goaltender Reese Pettigrew had his best game of the season stopping 30 of 31 shots he faced and made several big saves to shut down the Hespeler offence. Owen Sound opened the scoring early in the 2nd off the stick of Kurt Long. Nathaniel Dodd was on the fore-check and made the play happen taking the puck from the Hespeler defense. Dodd got the puck out front and both Long and Dodd had 3 whacks at it before Long buried it. The game sheet says the goal was unassisted, but it would never have happened if not for the hard work of Scooter Dodd. Midway through the 2nd Quinton Maddock buried a boomer behind the Hespeler netminder on the power play, assisted by Dodd. 5 minutes into the 3rd Hespeler got on the board but netminder Pettigrew shut the door for the balance and the strong play of the Owen Sound squad preserved the victory and a date with Woolwich in the next round of the OMHA playdowns.
I know and I am sure the parents and fans that were at the game today would agree that this was a fantastic hockey game to watch. There was end to end action, wonderful play making, hard hits, and great goaltending at both ends. Our boys beat a solid 2nd place hockey team in the Hespeler Shamrocks twice in this Round Robin, but in my mind they beat them looking like a 1st place hockey club. If this team comes to the rink to play like that each and every night, they can beat any team out there.
Well done boys!!!!. 5 wins 1 loss in Round Robin play. Just simply Fantastic. Enjoy the Superbowl and a well deserved Sunday off, and lets get ready to keep this Attack rolling on, next week against Woolwich.