Minor Peewee AAA Rangers outlast Lakers, advance to semi-finals, News, Minor Peewee, 2016-2017, AAA (Kitchener Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2016-2017 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Feb 23, 2017 | Scott Soulliere | 2045 views
Minor Peewee AAA Rangers outlast Lakers, advance to semi-finals
It was not easy. And at times, it was not pretty. But when their backs were up against the proverbial wall, the Minor Peewee Rangers put together one of their best efforts of the the season to punch their ticket to the Alliance semi-finals.

Very strong team efforts by Kitchener in Game #1 and Game #6 book-ended this back-and-forth series. While the blue shirts never trailed on points, each time that they took an advantage, Huron-Perth would push back. And just as they have done all season long, the Lakers gave the Kitchener kids all that they could handle. This was true right to the end.

In the 6th and deciding game with the teams dead-locked at 5 points each, the Rangers jumped out to a quick start and enjoyed a definitive territorial advantage throughout. The Rangers generated quality chance after quality chance while limiting the Lakers' opportunities. However, after having built and 2-0 lead, the Rangers would see their opponents push back again. The key stretch of this game came midway through the final frame. Huron-Perth was awarded a 5-on-3 powerplay for 1:27. The Rangers' penalty kill was outstanding. While the Lakers moved the puck on the outside, they were not able to solve goaltender, Hunter Welk.

The Rangers' PK did finally surrender a goal with 3:37 left in the deciding contest, pulling the Lakers within one. But that was as close as they would get. The Rangers added one final marker on a powerplay of their own to ice the game and set up a second round encounter with Chatham-Kent.

The Cyclones (17-12-3, 4th West Division) earned their trip to the semis by knocking-off the top seeded Sun County Panthers in 4 games. The Rangers and Cyclones split their two regular season contests with each team skating to a home ice victory.

Good luck young Rangers and coaches!

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