Feb 03, 2016 | bmiller | 762 views
Novice Preds Lose Exciting Game...
The Bruce Peninsula Novice Predators #1 team returned to action as they hosted the TCDMHA Rebels #1 team in Wiarton on Wednesday, Feb 3rd.
This was a great challenge for our kids as well as a perfect way to gauge the improvement of our team over the whole regular season.
The Rebels are undefeated in regular season and have only lost once 1 to 0 to the Walkerton Capitals #1 squad in tournament action this entire season, and with all that, the only time our 2 clubs have met, was in the Austin Holley Fall Shootout Classic tournament back in October.
Back then, TCDMHA would take a 2 to 1 lead into the 3rd period and score 2 real late goals in the last 2 minutes to win 5 to 1, but it was obvious then that they were carrying the play back then and were slightly the better team.
But this time, it was our kids who carried the play, we looked stronger and seem to have more pressure and scoring chances, although they were getting their chance too with great passing and determination as well!
Our kids opened the scoring with great team work and speed as Nathan Miller and Lillie dowd worked the puck down the boards and into their end and team mate Broguen McManus out muscled the defence behind the net to come out front and score on a beauty back hander.
The Rebels would tie it up early in the 2nd period leaving things at 1 to 1 after 2 periods.
Then TCDMHA would score with just over 4 minutes left in the 3rd and once more with 2 minutes and 24 secs left on the clock.
We would pull our goalie late, but we couldn't get that important scoring we needed and instead the Rebels would score twice more to win again 5 to 1.
What a great effort by our team, improved play of Gabriel McNair along with his steady partner Ashton Boyle in our end and the awesome dual of Asher Simpson and Nathan Miller as well kept the Rebels chances at a minimal.
Great skating and fore checking by our girls, Payton Cawthorne, Lillie Dowd and Shailan Miller who all showed tremendous effort today.
Ryan Hickey was very good including a great pad save in the second period to keep the game tied at one a piece at the time. All you kids showed how improved we are, and I am so proud of you as are the other coaches!
We will be missing coach Rusty and Skyler the next 2 weeks as they are in Costa Rica, so we'll have to step up our team play in their absence, so a reminder we have practice on Friday night in Wiarton at 7:30pm, hope to see you all there!
We play our next game at the Tyler Loopers Memorial tournament on Sunday, Feb 7th at 11am in Drayton vs the Seaforth Stars, please get good rest and we will see you down there by 10:20am, group may meet to car pool and follow each other from Tim Hortons in Hepworth by 8:30am or choose to take the trip yourselves.
Please let Jenn know if you are meeting at timmys, thanks and again great job tonight kids!