Feb 16, 2014 | Dave Duncan | 383 views
Tough Weekend
This past weekend, the Marcc Apparel Bantam AE Sailors had a pair of tough weekend games, one with a title on the line.
On Saturday they were in Durham to face the West Grey Rep team, in the 4th WOAA round robin game. After a hard fought win the previous Monday, hopes were high. Before the game started, coach Brown asked the two officials if a third ref was coming, as per WOAA rules during the playoffs. The reply from the younger official was "No, it is recommended not mandatory, and if you insist, you can pack your ____ up and leave." A telltale sign of how things would go for the game. Just 29 seconds into the game, Kody picked up a loose puck behind the net, circled into the slot and beat the West Grey goalie, unassisted, to open the scoring. The Sailors were flying, and things looked good. Unfortunately it was short lived, West Grey were equally hungry, and tied the score late in the first.
The second period started 1-1, West Grey scored three unanswered goals in the second period, the Sailors only managed penalties. As the second period ended, Daniel skated by the West Grey goalie, who felt he was going to bump him. The West Grey goalie slashed Daniel, and the players on the ice gathered in the corner. The refs separated the players, and sent them to their dressing rooms, with no penalties called. As Daniel skated from the end of the rink, to the door at center ice, the younger ref skated less than 5 feet behind him, berating him for 'crashing the crease'. At the door, Daniel finally replied, and was immediately ejected from the game. West Grey managed an additional goal in the third and the Sailors left with a loss, and a sour taste in their mouths.
On Sunday they were in Mildmay to face South Bruce's AE team, for the WOAA Bantam AE 4/5 title. Unfortunately, for the Sailors, the results weren't much better. While the officiating was MUCH better, the bounces just didn't go their way. Both goalies played strong, and the first period ended scoreless. Twenty nine seconds into the second period, the puck bounced off a Sailor forward, past the pinching Sailor defenseman, and South Bruce scored on a three on one break. The Sailors pressed South Bruce for the rest of the second, but were unable to tie the score on two power plays. The second period ended 1-0 for South Bruce.
The Sailors started the third period down a goal and down a player, as Mitchell was out after a vicious slash. Just over a minute in, bad luck played a visit again, a deflected shot bounced like a basketball, went up, and in off Tanner's back to make the score 2-0. South Bruce extended the lead to 3-0, when an uncovered player one-timed a shot that caught both of Tanner's pads before crossing the line. The Sailors didn't quit, with just over a minute remaining, Breaden won a faceoff in the South Bruce end directly back to Kody, who one-timed a shot by the South Bruce goalie. The Sailors pulled their goalie, and managed a couple more shots, but couldn't tie the game. South Bruce wins the WOAA title, and now face Ilderton in one OMHA semi-final, and the Sailors will face the winner of Brighton (Kingston area) and Lakefield (Peterborough area) in the other All-Ontario semi-final. Keep an eye out for future OMHA action for the Marcc Apparel Bantam AE Sailors.