Saugeen Storm AtomLL#1, Alan’s Fireside Grill, where host
the Bruce Peninsula Northstars #1 on Saturday afternoon in the Storms last
regular season game. The team has been
getting better all season and really showing off some of the skills and team
play they have been working on in practice so fans were expecting a great game
from the team for this one before we head into WOAA North Division Playoffs.
The puck drops and the game is on, the Storm quickly moved into the Northstars zone and managing a shot on net that is covered up and blown dead. Next shift faceoff is won Andrew moves the puck back Zac who fires it on net and there we have it the opening goal just over a minute and a half into the game and the Storm are up with a great shot by Zach at the blueline and Andrew with the assist. The Storm kept this great battle up and kept getting pucks on net after the battle were won. Just past the halfway point of the period the Northstars were awarded a penalty shot, Big Save Benny tried his best but just to many moves and he was unable to get it as the score was now tied at one. We saw some great passing in the other team’s zone and the defense did not let that puck out and kept the puck in. This was first highlighted with Nick moving the puck back to Wes who fired it towards the net, as the rebound laid there, Smiley jumped on it and make no mistake and put that puck where it belongs in the back of the net. Smiley with the goal and of course Wes and Nick with the assist on a great play. These great plays continued on and some great back checking from all players lead to Ian moving the puck up the boards to Peter who was ready for and picked it up in the neutral zone. Peter carried that puck into the Northstars zone cut to the middle and fired a hard shot at the far low corner to get his first of the year, and the bench/crowd went crazy in celebration, Peter getting his first goal from a great assist from Ian with just over two minute left in the period. The Storm kept the pressure on and the first ended with the Storm 3-1
Starting into the second period the Storm wasted no time with Hunter and Ismail moving into the Northstars end, they managed a shot at the net that the goalie could not handle as Nick came in to scoop up his first goal of the season off the rebound and once again the bench and the crowd when insane with cheering as Nick managed his first goal of the season with Hunter and Ismail earning the assists. The rest of the second was all Storm as they worked their opponents end and moved the puck among themselves and created shots on net. The Defense held the line really well and the forwards always came back hard on the backcheck if the Northstars did get by them to help out their teammates and most importantly helping Big Save Benny. This great teamwork really worked out well as the passes started coming back to the defensemen, Talan picked it up moved it to his partner Wes who fired in on net and then Jack out front in great position was able to lift the rebound in over the sprawling netminder. Jack with the goal and of course Talan and Wes the assist putting their team up 4-1, and the score would remain that at the periods end.
Going into the third the team looked confident and were playing very well as they had been skating battling but most importantly passing and playing position ready to receive the pass. When the puck dropped the Storm took right to the Northstars end going to work managing a few more chances and still moving the puck well. With just over 10 minutes to play in the third one little Northstars player broke free came down ice and managed to score on a real nice shot hitting the top corner over top of a surprised Ben putting the score at 4-2. The storm shook this off and once again continued to move the puck up ice and make beautiful plays to establish the Northstars zone. With the forwards passing back to the defense now and with just over seven minutes remaining we saw Zac and Talan passing back and forth on the blueline a few time before Talan let one rip at the net were Jack was there and slipped the big juicy rebound in, for another fantastic play, Jack with the goal and Talan and Zac with the assists on some beautiful passing. Then just after the four minute mark Ian made a great pass out of the Zone to Andy which was just out of his reach. This turned into a puck race between him and the Northstars that Andy won but just before he could get to the net the defenseman got body position on him. Andy spun out of this found the loose puck just out of reach for the goalie and lifted it over his pad and into the net for his first of the year with Ian earning the assist on the good heads up pass out of our zone. The Northstars would come back in the last minute to score their third and the buzzer went it was 7-3 for the Storm with 3 players earning their first goal of the season.
Great game team, beautiful passing plays and great work at getting pucks to the net. The Digger award for the game went to Peter who skated hard all game and was rewarded for his hard work for his first goal of the season, Congrats Peter and great game!! Honorable Mention to Josh and Ian who continue to play a great defensive Game and really make some nice plays up ice while battling hard to keep the puck in his opponent’s zone, and Andrew who was very aggressive on the puck all game.
Next Game(s) is the Ayton (West Grey) Tournament
-11 am vs Center Welland in Ayton
-2pm vs Grand Valley in Ayton