Feb 23, 2015 | nreintjes | 830 views
PLAYOFF POSTGAME - GAME #5
Unless it was a tie, one of these two teams was heading home to start shining their golf clubs and booking tee times!
In a do or die game, the DRAGONS again headed down the 400 series to play our 5th game against the Mt. Brydges Cougars. The DRAGONS didn't do well at home this series; only two games at home with one a tie and one a loss. On the road, the DRAGONS were able to clinch one tie and two wins to secure a spot in the "A" Division finals.
Despite the out of town game, the fans were there to support us as always! Again, the kids showed up early and enjoyed some seriously loud tunes of their choosing; the DRAGONS' playlist. With the rhythm in their souls the kids listened to the coaches pre-game recommendations, cheered their loudest and headed onto the ice. 1-2-3-DRAGONS!
The warm up was short and the kids headed to centre ice. Aside from the falling domino display at the hand shake, the warm up was intimidating. The puck drops and, like the last game, the DRAGONS took the puck and dominated the play for the entire period. Although the play was in their end, we hardly got a shot off. The Cougars' defense was incredible but our fore checking was better. The Cougars' goalie was on his mark too; he held us off until near the end of the first when the DRAGONS poured on the heat. After the Cougars blasted a puck into our end, simply to get it out if theirs, Mega Mike picks it up and carries it back into their end. Thinking about an infamous "Mike Walsh rush" he declines as he sees an opportunity to pass to an open DRAGON. The pass is made and is accepted by #9 Matthew M. Matthew plants his blades firmly in the ice and lays waste to a wrist shot that sails easily past the right shoulder of the goalie. At 1:31 in the first, the DRAGONS are on the board with a 1-0 advantage.
Just like the initial period, the Cougars and the DRAGONS give it their all making the $3 gate fee more than worth it. The fans enjoyed more back and forth play this period rather than the dominance of the first. Our goalie, Matthew Cochrane made saves this period that would have shamed Brodeur; if he had, for some reason, happened to be at this game; and paid his $3 to get in. At 6:30, Fabulous Fisher intercepts a mid-ice Cougar pass and turns the play around. He heads, solo, toward the net. As instructed, Fisher pulls his stick back and fires the puck, top shelf, into the top left hand corner of the net. You could actually see the net bulge out from the back. Nice hard shot Fish! This is answered by a Cougar goal at 5:40. Soon after, the opponents clearly got frustrated and one of the Cougars was sent to the box of shame for full out, obvious body checking. Poor Brayden, you took that hit well. End the second... it's 2-1 DRAGONS.
We were expecting the kids to tire in the last period, even just slightly, but we were wrong. The endurance of the DRAGONS is all due to the quality practices our coaches provide us! The pace of the play was just as fast as the first two periods; if not faster! True story! Having a 2-1 lead means nothing. As the Cougars have shown us in the past, the tables could turn in an instant. Not much happened this period that didn't happen in the first two until one of our players pulls a trademark move and unleashes the fury! Seeing we need to get a bigger point spread, Mega Mike makes his moves. Mike obtains the black circular beast in our end and looks up. He sees the potential path and begins. Mike makes at least 6 weaves and clears all other 9 players on the ice. In seconds he is heading straight on the Cougar goalie; just Mike vs Golaie. Mike makes a top cheese shot but it's saved. He doesn't quit and gets his own rebound; again it's saved. One more stab and Mike trickles the black disc only 5 inches over the line..... but it's in and the DRAGONS are up 3-1. It's 5:09 in the third.... lots of time left in the game. Seconds later the DRAGONS get a penalty of their own for slashing, not mentioning names (Fisher Blair), and the DRAGONS go short handed for two minutes. It makes no difference though because the penalty ends, the buzzer eventually sounds and the DRAGONS win the series with a 6-4 point spread. Not much of a spread but a win none the less.
The players, bench staff, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and friends jump out of their seats and the sound of the cheering fills the arena. Who knew this was out of town?? Unfortunately, the Cougars were not in the same boat as the DRAGONS were. Sadly, their season is over. The Cougars have complete respect of our team and our fans. They played just as hard as we did and had the skills to hold us at bay for 5 games. Their determination was fantastic. Kudos to them for a fabulous playoff round. Thank you Cougars; we had a blast.
On to the next round..... and wouldn't ya know it... it's against..... wait for it...... the Dorchester DRAGONS LL1! Woot woot! So exciting! Also, no more travelling.
All you Dorchester Minor Hockey fans; you have something special coming at ya! Stay tuned!
GO DRAGONS !!!!!!