Feb 07, 2015 | Todd McIver | 182 views
Semi-Final Game Against the Wolverines From Toronto!
Knowing that if they win this game, Blue would see their fourth final game out of five tourneys this year; a great record for a solid bunch of players! The boys were relaxed in the room and seemed ready to play which is usually a good sign!
As the puck dropped to start the semi-final game the crowd was rocking! Fans were cheering, coaches were yelling, and the players were jumpy. The atmosphere was electric! Then the unthinkable happened! Only 11 seconds into the game, a Toronto player took the puck from the opening face-off, marched unabated into the Blue end, and potted the games first goal. Not the start Blue was looking for!! A now stunned crowd was quiet, the coaches were speechless, and the players were standing still. Was this just a wake up call for Blue? That question was answered only a minute later when an angry Blue forward got a smart outlet pass from a Blue defender and potted the equalizer on some very strong skating into the Toronto zone. The period would end in a 1-1 tie but Blue seemed to be gaining momentum.
The second period was back and forth with each shot being turned away by both goalies or missing its mark. Although Blue was clearly the more skilled team, the hard-working Wolverines kept it close and never stopped their forecheck. There would be no scoring in the second frame and with the third about to start, the Blue coaches changed their strategy a little because Toronto was doing a good job closing up the neutral zone. With new strategy in place, Team Blue went to work! 2 minutes into the frame, Blue would take the lead with a quick dump and chase that got the Wolverines on their heels. This continued with the Blue defencemen making smart, solid passes out of the zone to forwards who were moving their feet and finding open lanes. Only 3 minutes later another goal... then another! With 5 minutes left and a 4-1 lead, Blue looked poised to punch their ticket to the final game! Not giving up, Toronto would take advantage of a power play and cut the Blue lead in half. With only seconds left though, Blue would pot and empty netter and seal the victory! Although we ended with a win, we have to remember that to continue to succeed, we have to win races and battles, and be smart with the puck. On to the championship game against our rivals from London!