Sunday February 19th
OAKRIDGE CLASSIC FINALS!!!
Eagles VS New Hamburg
We’ve made it to the Finals!
Nervous excitement was on the boys faces as they skated onto the ice. Parents were aligning themselves in the exact positions they were in during the semi-finals. Coach Cory was dawning his lucky pink shirt. The superstitions were coming out of the wood-work for this one! It’s the Championship!!
First period started fast! There was lightening under everyone’s skates!! The first goal was scored by New Hamburg at 8:43. Then at 6:16 #6 Ruth scored a beauty of a goal, assisted by #91 Banton. And just like that the Eagles were on the board!!! WIth only 51 seconds left on the clock New Hamburg scored their second goal, bringing the score at the end of the first to 2-1 New Hamburg.
Second period was like a tennis match…back and forth we went. At 9:44 New Hamburg scored their third goal. Then 1 minute later #66 slammed one in, with some serious authority! Goal was assisted by #10 Pittaway. The Eagles were back to being down by 1. Then at 6:40 New Hamburg scored another one and yet another one at 2:42. The Eagles were feeling it…but they never gave up!! With 1:55 on the clock #66 Nanuti scored his second goal of the game, assisted by #14 Gavin!! The crowd erupted!!! This kid’s on FIRE!!! At the end of the third period the score was 5-3 New Hamburg.
The third period was just as fast as the first!! Everyone was giving their 100%...and no-one was backing down. This was still anyone’s game!! New Hamburg started the period off with a penalty for blatant tripping. Come on New Hamburg…let’s not start that!! The period was action packed. Defense started to kick it into high gear keeping the puck in, and the pressure on…#4 Price used his foot, shin and shoulder to keep the puck in the end. With 2:36 left on the clock the Eagles scored their 4th goal of the game by, you guessed it… #66 Nanuti…giving him the Hat trick!!! This is the kid with the stitches in his leg!!! Closing up that 2 goal gap. But just 6 seconds later New Hamburg scored yet another goal, regaining their 2 goal lead. Eagles Coach called a time out with 1 minute left on the clock. With 45 seconds left on the clock New Hamburg was served their second penalty of the third period for yet again, tripping. While on the power play and literally 8 seconds left on the clock #91 Banton scored the final goal of the game, assisted by #14 Gavin. It didn’t close the gap, and the Eagles were not able to tie it up…but it was one hell of a game!!!
Later in the locker room #4 Price was awarded the 3rd Star Trophy-ette. #6 Ruth was awarded the 2nd Star Trophy-ette. And #66 Nanuti was awarded the 1st Star Trophy-ette. The tournament MVP Puck and Gift Certificate was awarded to #66 Nanuti for his outstanding play through-out the entire tournament, despite receiving 5 stitches in his shin in game #1.
Final Score: 6-5 New Hamburg
From the Stands