Port Elgin Home Hardware/Dunlop Fuels Novice BB Series still knotted after Game 3
The Port Elgin Home Hardware/Dunlop Fuels Novice BB playoff series versus Goderich is all even after three games. Each team now has three points apiece in the first to six points series, after both teams played to an incredibly hard fought 4-4 tie on Tuesday night in Goderich at the Memorial Arena.
Both teams came out ready to battle as the pace of the game was furious. Like two heavy weight champions looking for the knockout blow, both teams traded scoring chances back and forth in the first period, but neither goaltender would flinch, stopping all shots. The Storm’s defensive foursome of Reed Stauffer, Ethan Greig, Hale Schoneck and Carter O’Leary made sure there were no second chances in front of goalie Jarret Blue.
Early in the 2nd period, Saugeen Shores was the first team to land a hard jab with Nicholas Scott pounding home a rebound from a Jacob Condy shot. Austin Hagen made a nice down-low pass on the play to Condy in the corner, who took it to the net for the shot. Scott positioned himself perfectly to finish it off into the wide open corner. Shortly after that, with the Storm enjoying a power play, Dane Heipel landed a hard uppercut to the chin, putting the puck top shelf where Momma keeps the peanut butter off a nice feed from Condy. However, as often happens between two champions, the momentum began to shift. Goderich’s best player, Kaden Hoggarth, scored two goals in less than 90 seconds, tying the game heading into the 3rd period.
Early in the third period, Heipel connected again off of some very hard work from Eoin MacKay, who found Heipel wide open in front of the net, restoring the Saugeen Shores lead. That lead would be short-lived though as Hoggarth struck again with a goal and then an assist on a power play goal to put the host Sailors in front with five minutes to go, momentarily staggering the Storm. Just like these boys have shown all year though, they would not be knocked down to the canvas. With 1:33 to go and an extra attacker on the ice, MacKay started a beautiful breakout to Heipel, who found Condy. Condy, with a great individual effort to get by the last defender, deked short side on the goaltender to even the game at fours, bringing the crowd to their feet.
The resulting overtime period belonged once again to the goaltenders, and again, neither tender would blink. To make things even more interesting, the Storm were forced to kill off a penalty assessed to Condy for not giving the goalie his lost stick in time. However, with some great penalty killing by Donovan Kewageshig and Sam Flarity, the Storm preserved the tie. Game 4 is slated for Saturday morning at 10:00am at the Maitland Recreation Centre in Goderich. Go Storm Go!!