Midget Reps take 1-0 lead in OMHA Finals
Submitted By
Mike Weber on Saturday, March 14, 2009
A sluggish start, mid game regroup and a spectacular finish resulted in Listowel taking a 1-0 lead in the best of five final OMHA series.
With the cyclones being off the ice for over a week, the team looked quite sluggish in the first period although outshooting their opponents. If not for the solid goaltending of David Irwin, Listowel could have been down 1-0 in the series.
After Listowel started to regain their strength and started playing as a cohesive unit, Listowel was once again strucken with their good old penalty trouble. At this point in the season penalties have drastic effects on a teams chances, which was really shown last night as Alymer took the lead with two powerplay goals in the first period resulting in a 2-0 lead to finish the first.
The second period would be played with back and forth chances. Listowel would answer next on the powerplay as the new formed line of Jackson Martin, Mark Verkley and Vince McNichol went to work. Passing the puck around in the corner, Martin stepped out of the corner from a beautiful pass from Verkely and stuffed Listowel's first goal home. Alymer would answer back capitalizing on another mistake from the Listowel squad regaining their 2 goal lead to end the second.
Listowel knew their backs were against the wall as they entered the third. But as they have did most of the playoffs, they seemed to get their second life in the third. Listowel would open the scoring in the opening minutes as Martin would jam at another loose puck to put home his second goal of the game assisted by Verkley and Derek Fraser. Listowel's level of play elevated and they seemed to be all over Alymer in the third. With all three lines rolling, it was the turn of the line of Eric Boisvert, Philip Boertien and Josh McPhee to put in their contributions. They outworked the defensive efforts of the Alymer team, springing a puck loose in the corner and from a beautiful pass from Bosivert to Boertien, the game was tied 3-3. Listowel had all the luck and momentum in their favour at this point as minutes later, the Verkley, Martin and McNichol line would put the stamp on the final score with the game winner as their 3 on 2 efforts resulted in a McNichol goal over the arm of the Alymer goaltender. Listowel would shut the Alymer team down in the final minutes with great defensive efforts from Listowel's defence and the solid goaltending of Irwin.
Listowel heads to Alymer for game 2 on Sunday, March 22 at 7:15pm. Game 3 is on Monday, March 23, 8:00pm in Listowel.
GO CYCLONES GO.
