Ok,it would make more sense if we were playing Elmvale, but it was a determined squad Oro faced Tuesday night in Coldwater as this was a do or die game for the Wildcats.
We expected a difficult game and were down three players for the match,including Fletch,so we told the team we needed big games from everyone.
Coldwater came out of the gate like we hadn't seen all season,skating extremely hard,passing well and determined to extend their season. Their center #13 was all over the ice,forechecking hard and backchecking like he was possessed..very impressive wheels. So we began to get unnerved, and tried to do it all ourselves which can always be a team's undoing. It was no surprise that Coldwater took the early lead on a I got/you got it play that Coldwater pounced on and found net. 1-0 after one and we haven't seen this in a while.
So we tried to calm the team down on the bench while pushing them a little too.
The Roadrunner ,as he's done all season,backchecked with fire and helped squelch out Coldwater's best centers.
He had several clear chances on net in the first,but was beaten by Coldwater's goalie's hot glove. So come second,he took a pass from Edward and flew the zone,this time going with a double shift that found paydirt...assist to Evan as well. The amazing thing about Aidan's arsenal is he can beat you so many ways,in all directions..high/low rockets or dekes that confuse the fans let alone tenders. .No chance for Coldwater and knotted at ones early second.
It's been a breakout season for you Aidan,playing center for the first time. I told you at season's beginning it's the two way play and puck movement that separates good centers from great ones,and you took it to heart. You backcheck so hard I call you our third D...that's all effort kid.
Keep working hard to elevate your game to the next level...you have unlimited potential young man.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq_bjaI0NTo
Jacob and Bo struggled early using one another's speed but began to find their rhythm by the second and Bo's wide shot caromed of the back boards right to Jacob who made no mistake and quickly ripped it home. 2-1 end of two and we were back on track.
We ran two d pairs and Ty and Cassie were matched for the first time. Cassie brings a long stick and aggressive defensive posture where Ty is strongest inside the O blue line with quick,hard shots to the net. Together they were a formidable match for Coldwater's attacks,and were strong on the puck in our zone, excellent hard clears/first passes and occasionally using their big bodies on Coldwater's size to win puck battles too. Great effort you two,and Ty's shot paid dividends third period creating a chance for Mark who,in the slot had two hard shots on goal...we thought he had scored, but the puck was laying behind the netminder,likely on the goalline loose. Well in beeps the Roadrunner,like a hungry coyote on a T-bone to putt it home. Determination on display and the 3-1 lead early third.
To their credit,Coldwater would not let up. They were charging hard all game,desperate to not let their season end.
Win,and they could have bumped Oro2 from the final. But to do that,they needed to score several goals as well for the tiebreaker..which brings us to Owen.
Not since the Bradford game had he been tested like this. Several breakaways against Coldwater's best forwards and when they couldn't beat him with shots,they tried dekes,when they could beat him with dekes they tried crashing the net. They threw everything at him but the kitchen sink,but there he was,battling to the end,preserving the team's victory. The Big O was sponge like in absorbing shots for no rebounds and quick whistles..hugely important. You showed everybody in this game Big O why the young lady from Flesherton was likely correct and your teammates let you know post game in the dressing room.
Coldwater pulled their goalie early,and came at us in waves.We bent,didnt break,and O was always there to shut the door.
Coldwater played a smart,clean,hard skating game for three periods,limiting our deadly powerplay and never gave up...kudos to them and a good way to go out on a very successful season.
But in the end we did outchance them and delivered on enough to win the game ensuring both Oro squads will showdown for the A Championship...an accomplishment I'm sure is extremely rare and a credit to both teams for splitting talent well at season's beginning...and we both have much talent.
This is the result we have wished for and couldn't be happier for both teams.