So your saying theres a chance!, News, PeeWee Rep, U13, 2013-2014 (Twin Centre Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2013-2014 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Feb 11, 2014 | peeweerep | 1727 views
So your saying theres a chance!
The Peewee Reps played the Dunnville Mudcats in the second round of their OMHA Play offs. It was a very tough series with both teams playing a very high quality of hockey and amazing sportsmanship through and through.

Game 1 was played in Dunnville and it was a true reflection of things to come in the series. It was the first time the teams played this year and the first period had both teams feeling each other out just to get a sense of each other. Twin Centre opened the scoring in the second with a nice goal by Aidan Krueger assisted by Curtis Butler. Dunnville responded with a quick goal a few minutes later. Daniel Rudy scored to make it 2 -1 half way through the second. 16 seconds to go in the second, Dunnville scored late and had the momentum heading into the third. Early in the third, Dunnnville scored again and kept the pressure on. Dunnville potted another to make it 4-2 at the 6:45 mark of the third. With time winding down, the Stars called a time out at the 4:29 mark to regroup and refocus. The message to the players was that there is lots of time left to get a few bounces our way and score one and build on that and or everyone to stay focused and not "check out". "They appear to be tiring out and we need to keep on them". The Stars picked things up and created a few scoring chances and Dunnville took a Body Checking penalty at the 1:58 mark of the third. Dunnville then took their time out. With the face off in Dunnville's zone, the stars pulled their goalie and had a 6 on 4. The main message during the time out was getting traffic in front and let’s try to get many shots as time is winding down. The stars won the draw and maintained puck possession in their zone. With all kinds of pressure, Aidan Krueger received a nice feed from Daniel Rudy and scored and made it 4-3 at the 1:16 mark. This goal gave the Stars a new life. The Stars won the face off at center and was able to get the puck in deep again in Dunnville’s zone and the goalie was pulled again. Now, on a 6 on 5, the Stars moved the puck around again and Daniel Rudy snuck in from the point and slid the puck 5 hole and tied things up at 4. The players were pumped!! and over time was looming. During over time, the Stars had 3 high quality scoring chances but could not score and the game 1 ended in a tie. The rest of the series would have a similar feel to it. Brett Springer played great in net yet again and shared player of the game honours with Daniel Rudy and Aidan Krueger.

Game 2 was played in Wellesley and it was a bit of an odd one. Dunnville had picked up their tempo and played a more physical style of game. They ended up taking 9 penalties in the game and the Stars only had 2!!! The Stars could not get anything going on the PP and Dunnville was able to score a goal in each period and won 3-0 (an empty net goal late in the third). Dunnville was up 3 points to 1 now and game 3 was heading back to Dunnville. The Stars would need to find a way to score. Blair Gowing played amazing in net (Broken record) and was given player of the game honours.

Game 3 was a tough one for the Stars to swallow (at the time). Aidan Krueger opened the scoring early in the first and things looked good early. The Stars PK was put to the test in this one like Dunnville's in Game 2. The Stars took 5 penalties to Dunnville's 1 in this one. The Stars kept the lead until early in the third but took a penalty and Dunnville banged home a rebound on the PP and tied things up. The score was 1-1 after 3 periods and over time was again part of the equation. Early in OT, what looked like a non-threatening play, Dunnville was able to get the puck in front of the Stars net and kept banging at it and with a number of players in front from both teams, the puck found its way in the net and Dunnville was up 5 points to 1 now in the 6 point series and appeared to have a strangle hold on it.
After the game in the room, the players were not happy and full of frustration. As the Head Coach, I knew what to say the second I got into the dressing room. I told the players about a team I was part of when I was a player. My team was in a similar predicament down 5 points to 1 in a 6 points series in the OMHA finals. By staying positive our team was able to win the next 3 games and win the OMHA Championship and there is no reason why we cannot do the same in this series. "We are in a bit of a hole here and we need to dig our way out". Brett Springer stood on his head in the game but some times that is the way it goes.

Game 4 was back in Wellesley and all Dunnville needed now was a tie or a win and its over for the Stars. A change in routine was put in place for the players for their pregame. Also, a new song "Right Now" by Van Halen was added to the playlist of the pregame music for the Stars in the dressing room in hopes to "Turn this thing around". Could the Stars extend the series?? The game did not start off great for the Stars. Dunnville scored early in the first and then early in the second and was up 2-0 and had the momentum (7:23 of the second). Shortly after this, with Brock Krulicki, Tyler Munro and Alex Kaufman fore checking hard,  Dunnville took a penalty for hooking Tyler Munro. Then 22 second later (6:47mark) Dunnville took a slashing penalty and the Stars were on a 5 on 3 PP. With a quick pass, Daniel Rudy to Blair Bender, Blair took a shot and Curtis Butler deflected it in and the Stars were on the board. A much needed spark. Now on the 5 on 4 power play a minute and 1:33 seconds later, Blair Bender took another shot from the point and with a lot of traffic in front, Curtis Butler was able to slide the puck in the net and the Stars had tied things up yet again. This tying goal created a huge momentum shift and with 1:43 left in the second, Daniel Rudy scored on a wrist shot that trickled in after the goalie got a piece of it and the Stars took the lead 3-2 and did not look back and was able to win their first game of the series and make the series 5 points to 3. Brett Springer held the fort again in net and shared play of the game honours with Curtis Butler.

Game 5 was back in Dunnville. With the victory in game 4 the Stars confidence seemed to be rising and the longer a series goes on, anything can happen. This game was a true defensive battle. The play of both teams defence had really started to take shape. Jacob Voisin and Dylan Burton of the Stars took command on the boards and made a lot of great plays on their blue line. William Weber made some great passes while alluding Dunnvilles fore checkers. Josh Monk made some timely poke checks and made sure Dunnnville was getting no chances. Blair Bender forced many turnovers and came up with pucks in our end that motivated the boys to step it up. There was no scoring in the first period with both teams not really having many quality chances due to the defense of each team. At the 5:14 mark of the second, Dylan Burton made a nice play to keep the puck in their zone, Cameron Hoy picked up the loose puck, passed it over to Tyler Zyta and he one timed it and it found its way in the net and the Stars opened the scoring. With this goal, Dunnville started to put on the pressure but once again the play of the Stars defence reduced Dunnville to minimal quality scoring chances. Late in the third, Curtis Butler scored on a scramble in front of their net assisted by Josh Monk and Aidan Krueger and the Stars win 2-0 and force a game 6!! A winner take all!! Could the Stars pull off 3 in a row and take the series? Blair Gowing earned the Shutout along with Tyler Zyta, they received player of the game honours. We’re heading to game 6 back in Wellesley!

Game 6 was very similar to Game 5. The goaltending by Brett Springer stole the show for the Stars! Dunnville came out flying with a lot of pressure and we were on our heels early on. They put a lot of traffic in front but Brett was able to make the saves and the D was there to clear to rebounds. Half way through the 1st, Aidan Krueger just through the puck on net from beside the net and somehow it made its way in and the Stars took the lead. Dunnville continued put the pressure on but could not find a way to score. Late in the third, Dunnville pulled their goalie and was making a late surge but could not score and the Stars pulled it off, an improbable comeback of being down 5 points to 1 in a 6 point series to win 3 in a row and win the series. The players dug deep and stayed focused. Each player contributed huge, by sacrificing their bodies with blocked shots and taking some frustrated Dunnville players stick work. The "Stars aligned" and like Coach Jeff said "You guys have written your own story to tell". A huge acknowledgment goes out to the Dunnville Peewee Rep team and its coaching staff.   Even though it was a physical series it was a very clean and hard fought battle. The Dunnville Players should be proud of their effort and compete level and have earned the respect of our coaches and Players. Thanks for a very entertaining series players and the best of luck in the remainder of your season.


With the victory, the Stars will now play South Huron in the next round of the OMHA play offs which will start soon.