I STAND
APART FROM THE REST.
I STAND AS
THE LAST LINE OF DEFENCE.
I STAND IN
THE WAY OF WHAT EVERY PLAYER WANTS MOST.
I AM A
DREAM WRECKER, A MOMENTUM KILLER, A GOAL ROBBER.
IN MY WORLD
EVERY PUCK IS A THREAT EVERY PUCK CARRIER AN ACCOMPLICE.
I DEFEND MY
NET ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT IT IS MY HOME AND THAT NOTHING COMES
IN
UNINVITED. EVERY SAVE I MAKE FUELS THE NEXT AND EVERY CREASE I PROTECT IS MY
OWN.
I AM
SATISFIED ONLY AFTER I STOP EVERYTHING.
I AM A GOALIE
The Holloway Auto Parts U10 Rep Team have had a busy 10 days with four Playoff games.
Wednesday, February 23rd vs. Kitchener Jr Rangers
Kitchener came out strong, Joseph Moss had a couple offensive break outs, shooting high. Coleton Schmidt won the face off, passing back to Nash Rhiel, battling in the corner to give a pass to Tyler Peck sniping in the first goal. The time clicked down as both teams played a cat and mouse game, with Kitchener pushing hard offensively the Warriors blue line pushed back harder creating a wall that couldn’t be breached. The second period a fumbled pass came through centre ice, creating a breakaway opportunity for the Rangers, with their shot being deflected, defencemen Malcolm Austin-Olsen grabbed the puck feeding Schmidt, who did an end-to-end bob and weave snipping in the second goal of the game. Two minutes later AP Drake Holke made a snap pass to Owen Hurley, firing in top shelf goal #3. Austin-Olsen got a second rebound in the defensive zone, fed Mason Bye who rang in goal #4. The defensive line consisting of Nick Forman, Brayden Keating, Austin-Olsen, Rhiel, Jaxon Hallock and Marcus Atkinson were a thorn in the Rangers game play, with good gap control, D to D passing, poke checking, keeping Kitchener in front and eliminating shots were a strong factor in leading the game to victory! Ending the period with the 5th goal was Moss, assisted by Rhiel. In the third period Moss on a rebound/turnover had a quick release flicking in the final goal of the game ending with 6-0!!
Saturday, February 26th vs. London Jr Knights White
Coming into this game the boys were on a winning streak that has become a hot topic in the league, the fear of playing the Stratford U10 Warriors, they are an offensive force to be recon with. The Molson Arena was echoing with London parents hooting, hollering, bells ringing, cheering vigorously, rallying their team’s energy. The boys came out slower on their skates then normal, the Jr. Knights took advantage and kept the boys chasing the puck, creating a chippy game where the boys couldn’t gain full control of the puck. Jr. Knights did a good job putting two players on every puck, taking away the easy lanes, forcing shots from a far distance, limiting space for the Warriors. The Jr Knights ended the first period with 3 goals. Second period the boys stepped on the ice, with a little more urgency in their strides and reversed the pressure to hold the Jr. Knights. Coleton Schmidt used his long strides, reach and strength to blast a shot that rebounded to winger Nate Micks, who netted the Warriors first goal. Shortly after, the boys settled into a defensive game playing off a couple PK, not allowing the Knights to cross centre. The fight was on to get some offence moving and catch the Jr. Knights. Owen Hurley was given a gift of a clean breakaway, on a bad line change by London, shooting low stick side to narrow the gap. The final period had a few PK and PP and the boys held on! Schmidt broke past the blue line effortlessly shooting a mistle bar down, ringing in the third goal for the Warriors. With time running out, Coaches pushed the offensive players in the last few minutes but couldn’t net another goal, ending with a 5-3 L … maybe us Warrior parents should step up our cheering section?? 😊
Sunday, February 27th vs. London Jr Knights Green
Coming off an unexpected loss the day before, the boys were energized, dialed in to start this game at Western Fair! The first period was full of end-to-end action, both teams hard on each puck, working the boards, closing shooting lanes, battling every inch of the ice, leaving the first period scoreless. AP Drake Holke had a good period pinching the boards, back checking and putting pressure on the puck, winning the battles. Second period, the Warriors fought off a couple PK, did a good job limiting shots, clearing pucks, not allowing the Jr Knights to cross over center. Warriors couldn’t get any solid shots off as the Jr Knights were lifting sticks, holding sticks down, taking away the ability to shoot. “The Goal is my house, and you are not welcome here!” Sawyer Verspeeten stood between the pipes and with 27sec left in the period, a Knight went on a breakaway firing a rocket a couple feet in front of Sawyer, but was robbed by the Verspeeten hot glove, keeping it 0-0. Third period, the battles continued back and forth, Micks went down the left boards launching a shot at the goal crease, winger Lincoln Rae tapped in not only the first goal of the game but his 1st Warrior goal!!! CONGRATULATIONS LINCOLN! The Jr Knights were able to recoup after a 4:00PK to net their lone goal of the game with 8:26 left. In the offensive zone, Andrew Hodgins blocked a shot with his skate, quickly recovering from the sting to fire in the game winning goal to end with a 2-1 V. The Jr Knights tried pulling their goalie with 4:36 left in the game but were out played by the Warriors energy!
Sunday, March 6th vs. Hamilton Huskies
On the sunny Sunday afternoon, the U10’s stared across from the mighty hungry Hamilton Huskies, who were ready to put everything on the line to not face playoff elimination. The black disc was dropped the game picked up speed quick with end-to-end rushes. Huskies got a good bounce sending them on a 1v1, but were stopped by Schmidt’s wheels, stick lift and back checking skills, changing direction of the puck. With a quick line change Hurley grabbed the puck pushing his way down behind the net, making a beauty pass to linemate and winger Hodgins, to net the first goal of the game. With the Warriors on a high, the Huskies didn’t get knocked down, they stepped up pinning the Warriors in their end for a 1:13, netting their first goal. The U10’s carried on, battling the puck, and became offensively zealous, rapid firing against the Huskies goalie, who hung in their robbing the boys until ….. Hurley jumped on the ice sneaking up behind a Huskie stealing the puck in the defensive zone, rushing down the ice, passed the puck between the defenseman legs, reaching around him to fire a shot, trickling in goal #2, ending the first. Second period, the Huskies fan club were able to ignite energy in the arena that worked towards their benefit, with a couple 2v1 the dogs were unleashed, netting two goals, giving them a 3-2 lead. Third period, both teams hit the ice with energy, aggressiveness, and urgency. Hamilton bounced a puck off the boards to send a player on a 1v1 making it 4-2. Ten seconds later off the draw they netted goal #5 on another 1v1. With a couple missed penalties being called in the Warriors favor, you would anticipate a team to begin the slide down the discouragement slope, these boys DID NOT! They stepped up and kept their head in the game, stayed composed and worked the ice. Again, Hurley on a line change grabbed the puck at the blue line, moving laterally, turned and fired a shot low glove side, making it 5-3. Next shift, Micks working the boards down low, shot a puck out to Schmidt at the hashmarks, one timing a five-hole shot, making it 5-4. With the momentum quickly shifting a time out was called with 8:00 minutes left. The intensity escalated and the push was ON!! With 3:16 left, Moss with a quick pass off the boards to Schmidt, releasing a rocket, that Micks buried tying the game at 5’s, validating a ‘griddy dance’ celebration. A mad scramble in front of the net the Huskies found the bouncing puck netting their 6th goal giving them the lead. With our goalie being pulled the red, white, and blue added some pressure, with Huskies tipping a puck to Hurley, the jets were on down the left side, he fired a shot that rebounded out to Schmidt on the doorstep tying the game at 6’s. With only 1:10 remaining in the game another time out was called. Both teams lined back up, but neither were successful on taking the W ending the game with a 6-6 T!! It was an exciting game to watch, keeping viewers on the edge of their seat, as the goals went back and forth!! Great job boys !!!
NEXT ACTION: Thursday, March 10th @ 6:45P.M @ Western Fair vs. London Jr Knights Whit
Sunday, March 13th @ 1:30P.M @ Allman Arena vs. Burlington Jr Raiders Black