Midget AE’s to play Teeswater in the WOAA Lockridge Midget Rep Hockey Championship finals.
The Saugeen Shores Legault's Independent Grocer Storm Midget
AE's defeated the Arran Elderslie Ice Dogs midget rep team two games
straight in their best of three semi-final playoff series last week.
The Storm opened the series on the road in Paisley
on Monday night. James Besito and Matt Teschke both scored unassisted goals in
the first period to give the Storm a 2 nothing lead at the end of the first.
James Besito, assisted by Spencer Schihl, scored early in the second for a commanding 3 goal lead. But the Storm got into penalty trouble and the Ice Dogs scored 2 power play goals to pull within one. However with 5 minutes left in the second, Stephen Pilar, assisted by Spencer Schihl, scored to make it 4-2 for the Storm. Arran Elderslie added another power play goal before the period ended and the Storm took a 4-3 lead into the third.
The third period belonged to the Storm as James Besito scored again to complete the hat trick. Chris Gundrum, with assists going to Josh Stewart and Stephen Pilar, and Jacob Roote assisted by Matt Teschke, rounded out the scoring in the third for a 7-3 win for the Storm.
Game 2 was played in South on Thursday. James Besito opened the scoring with an unassisted goal as his shot squeaked through the goalie’s pads at the 7 minute mark of the first. Two minutes later Ryan Crosetta made it 2 nothing banging in a rebound in the crease. Drawing assists on the goal were Josh Stewart and Matt Teschke. Though being outplayed for most of the period, the Storm took a 2 goal lead into the second period due to the good goal tending of Brody Farrish.
The Ice Dogs continued to pressure the Storm in the second and managed to score 3 goals in the first half of the second period for a 3-2 lead. With less than a minute left in the second period Stephen Pilar managed to tie the game as he broke in on the wing and wristed a shot over the goalie’s shoulder. Assisting on the goal was Josh Stewart and Dalton Reany.
The third period saw the Storm get an early power play opportunity and Spencer Schihl wasted little time as he tipped a point shot from Greg McCulloch past the goalie to regain the Storm lead. The Storm concentrated on defense as Brody Farrish shut the door and with less than 2 minutes left in regulation time, Justin Greig sprang Stephen Pilar who broke in on the wing and beat the goalie far side for a 5-3 final score.
The Saugeen Shores Midget AE's will now face Teeswater in a best-of-five series (or six point series if ties occur) in the championship finals.