The Peewee Rep Stars blanked the BCH Ice Dogs 3-0 on Tuesday evening to win the C Division of the Young Canada Week Tournament in Goderich.
The Stars and Ice Dogs were old foes as they had faced each other 7 other times over the course of the season stretching back to their first exhibition match on October 4th. Although the Stars held a 6-1 record going into the game, the last two times these teams had met it had taken overtime to determine a winner and for this match-up the Stars were not only playing their second game of the day but were missing one player (Jordan Pepper) and another was injured but would valiantly try to compete (Brett Williamson). It would take a team effort if the Stars were to emerge victorious.
The puck was dropped to start the first period and the game was on! The Stars had adapted well to the larger ice surface of the Maitland Recreation Centre in their previous two games and they used it well again in this game. The players spread out to use the entire ice surface and Logan Lammerant was free to wheel and use his speed to its best advantage. The Stars had some jump and it was off one of those hardworking opportunities that the Stars got their first goal. Cody Kropf dumped the puck into the Ice Dogs' end and David Metzger took off in pursuit on the forecheck. Metzger was able to force the turnover by stripping the Ice Dogs defender of the puck and then shot the puck over the goalie's left shoulder into the far, top corner. The period ended with the Stars ahead 1-0.
The second period was evenly played and although there were a couple chances, neither team could score.
Ahead 1-0 coming out of the change rooms after the flood between the second and third periods everyone knew that the next goal would be huge in determining the outcome of this game. Play went back and forth for most of the first half of the period until Jake Finlayson sprung Metzger on a breakaway by first drawing the Ice Dogs' defenders to him. Metzger streaked in all alone and beat the goalie high, glove side to put the Stars up 2-0. A couple minutes later the Stars stretched the lead to 3-0 when Metzger passed back to Kropf on the point. Kropf unloaded a hard, low shot that Robert Campbell deflected up and over the goalie into the net. Throughout the third period there were several times where the Stars' defensive corps (Morgan Bennewies, Mark Robinson, Scott Malone, and Kropf) in conjunction with Stars' netminder Jared Anstett had to make a big second effort to win the battles and clear the puck in goal mouth scrambles in their end. The backchecking and second efforts of the forwards were also key in limiting the Ice Dogs' opportunities.
With the win, the Stars are Young Canada Week "C" Division Champions.