Playoff Game 1, News, Atom White, U11, 2016-2017 (Mt Brydges Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2016-2017 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Feb 20, 2017 | Mark Emerick | 665 views
Playoff Game 1
The post season action has arrived after a great run through the regular season for the Great White Atoms. We face Thamesford in the opening round which is sure to be a tough battle. If we are on top of our game and everyone is working hard we are better, now is the time prove it. It's the playoffs folks, here we go...

Thamesford made the trip to Mount Brydges to open the playoffs on our turf since we have home ice advantage by finishing slightly ahead in the point standings. This game would prove to be a continuance of what we have seen from these two teams in the past. Very even hockey and it's anyone guess who will prevail. I believe the team that works the hardest and passes the puck more has the best chance. Don't forget a solid defence and good goaltending always are key factors to success in post season play. Here's how we got started....
The first period was not so pretty in my opinion. Thamesford seemed to be working harder and winning many battles for the puck. We were stuck in our zone a lot and couldn't generate much in the way of offense. Thamesford came very close by ring one off the cross-bar and another off the post in the first period. Ben also made a bunch of nice saves to keep the game scoreless after one.
The 2nd period was more of what we saw in the first except our team seemed to be playing a bit better. Chances happened at both ends before Bryce Carruthers opens the scoring after picking up a rebound in front of the net at the 6:12 mark. Thamesford kept working hard and managed to answer back with 58 seconds left in the 2nd to tie it up going into the 3rd.
Ben was playing solid between the pipes and our team was hanging on but a fair amount of time was spent in our zone. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, we got a break when Cole Abbey got took a pass from Cole Haywood and Cobyn Dias then went in to score giving us a one goal lead with 3:14 left to play. Thamesford kept pressing and got a breakaway at the 1:12 mark, Ben made the pad save but the Thamesford player was dialed in on the rebound and had time to pick up the loose puck and score on his 2nd attempt to tie it up. The game ended with a 2-2 tie.
The rest of this series is sure to be a nail-biter. We will need to work hard every shift, pass the puck more and work together as a team. Limiting Thamesford's scoring opportunities by solid defensive play will also be very important if we want to move on to the next round. 
Good luck and play hard kids! GO COUGARS GO!!

Coach Pat
P.S. Congrats to Cole "Crash" Haywood for taking the 5 bucks for the nicest assist today. Great job Cole!
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