Jan 27, 2017 | dmarling | 1088 views
Greavette South Muskoka Bears Midget AE win 1st round of OMHA playdowns
The Greavette Midget AE Bears were paired up against the Huntsville Otters for the first round of OMHA playdowns. This match up was going to test the Bears, as they had not won a single game against the Otters all season and were injury plagued with 3 players out plus 2 more who missed most of the series......
The first match up saw the teams hit the ice in Gravenhurst on Saturday January 14th. The first period saw the Bears take to the ice and set the pace, it was fast end to end hockey. The Bears were relentless in winning every battle. Edge of your seat hockey continued, as the game played into the second with both goalies shutting down every shot. Scoreless into the third, the Bears charged in, with numerous scoring opportunities, solid defense by Tasnadi and Cameron and exciting saves between the pipes, sending the teams to overtime to try to settle the score. The evenly matched teams played through 10 minutes of overtime, but neither team was able to put a marker up on the scoreboard, to end in a 0-0 tie.
The next day the teams took to the big ice in Huntsville on the Don. The Bears’ ease on the big pad was apparent from the drop of the puck at centre ice. They were setting each other up, first to the puck and forcing the play, but both netminders maintained their shutout. Just 3 minutes in to 2nd the Bears lit the score board up with an awesome set up from Somerville and Coady to Antonides, who buried it in the net. Just three minutes later, with the Bears on a powerplay, Dikeos took a shot from the point and was tipped in by Coady, to put the Bears up by 2. The excitement ramped up as the Otters went into a 5 on 3 for 1 and ½ minutes. The Otters took full advantage putting their first goal up on the board, cutting the Bears lead in ½. With just 18 seconds left in the 2nd the Otters tied the game on a powerplay goal, going into the intermission. The Bears charged back in the 3rd, with Cameron deking through the Otters just 1 minute in, to put the Bears’ 3rd goal up. Quickly followed by Robson’s breakaway down the ice to put up the insurance goal. Penwell was stellar between the pipes for the Bears, shutting down the Otters. The Bear’s held the lead for the rest of the period to secure the win 4-2 and go ahead in the series.
The next Friday saw a full house to cheer on the Bears for their Game 3 in Gravenhurst. The first period was well matched, even play with both goalies shutting down all scoring opportunities. The Bears roared into the 2nd with Ruddell firing a shot on net and Dikeos burying the rebound to put the first marker up on the board. The Otters on a powerplay tied the game up 1-1 to finish out the second. The third was end to end hockey, but the Otters put 2 quick goals in in the last 2 and ½ minutes to take their first win 3-1 and tie the series up.
Game 4 saw the Bears back on the big ice in Huntsville to try to break ahead in the series. Bears opened the scoring with tape to tape passing from Antonides and Cameron to set up Anderson who found the back of the net off a quick wrist shot, putting the Bears up 1-0 in the first. Edge of seat hockey, played into the second. Bears’ Coady and Anderson fed the puck up to Robson, who deking the goalie out put the Bears up by 2. The Otters answered the challenge, going up on the board to finish the second 2-1. The Bears on a powerplay, had Dikeos slide a pass to Anderson who found the back of the net to put the up the Bears’ insurance goal. The Otters continued to press hard and answered with a goal of their own, to end the game 3-2 for the Bears.
Game 5 came back to Gravenhurst on Sunday. The Bears hit the ice, focused on the job at hand. Scoring opened half way through the first by the Bears with a breakaway by Maher burying it highside blocker. Doubling their lead on a beautiful goal by Robson, assisted by Anderson and Coady. Intensity built in the second with the Otters turning on their speed and physicality, making for great hockey. The Bears put up their 3rd goal with a slapper from the point by Somerville, assisted from Hoffman and Quemby. Intense end to end hockey ensued for the rest of the period, until the last 2 minutes of the period when Huntsville scored, making it 3-1 going into the flood. The third period was even matched, intense play, with both teams playing to their full potential. Halfway through the third, Ruddell picks up the puck from Hoffman and Anderson, carrying it down the ice and roofed it on a backhand to put the Bears up 4-1. The Bears held the lead with solid defense and awesome netminding to take the series and move on to the next round of OMHA playoffs against Penetang.