Feb 25, 2013 | cshanks | 1017 views
Lindsay Muskies Advance to All-Ontario Semi-Finals
The Lindsay Bantam Muskies advanced to the OMHA Semi-finals with a 2-1 win on Saturday against the PEC Kings to win the Quarter Finals series 7 points to 1. The win extended the Muskies unbeaten streak to 9 games as they have yet to lose during the 2013 calendar year.
The Muskies got off to a strong start taking a 1-0 lead just over 3 minutes into the game. The line of Caileb Duffy, Cameron Robinson and Liam Shanks with the defensive pairing of Curtis Appleton and Garrett Fierheller had a strong shift with good forechecking and a strong cycle. The end result was Cameron Robinson scoring a bad-angle goal (assists to Caileb Duffy and Curtis Appleton) to put the Muskies up 1-0. The Muskies could not maintain their forecheck however and played passively for the remaining part of the 1st period which was controlled for the most part by the visiting Kings.
The 2nd period saw the Muskies play more physical as the play evened out between the 2 teams. With the Muskies shorthanded early in the period Cameron Robinson scored the eventual GW goal on a breakaway (assist to Riley MacIver). However the 2 goal lead was short-lived as soon after the Kings PP elapsed they were able to capitalize on a tired Muskies unit to cut the lead to 2-1. The Muskies pressed hard to re-gain the 2 goal lead late in the frame but were unable to capitalize on a good shift by the line of Dawson Bruce, Matt Cooke and Zack Rhodes which saw Matt Cooke get a breakaway but he was unable to put the puck in the net. Another chance late in the period as a result of a relentless forecheck by Drake McQuarrie was also turned aside to send the game to the intermission with the Muskies leading 2-1.
The 3rd period was tight checking with neither team gaining any advantage or getting many scoring chances. The Muskies, with strong defensive play by Hunter Reedman and Jaryd Lapointe, were able to contain the Kings and keep everything to the outside. However, with half the period left the Muskies again went shorthanded and the Kings were able to again provide some sustained pressure. Goalie Tanner King, with excellent penalty killing by the combinations of Dryden Brown, Cody Defreitas, Dawson Bruce, Liam Shanks and Cameron Robinson with the defensive pairing of Riley MacIver and Garrett Fierheller were able to kill the penalty and set up a tense final few minutes. With the Kings goalie pulled for the extra attacker the Muskies were able to turn the pressure aside and hold on for the 2-1 game win and clinch the series. The Kings ended up outshooting the Muskies 24-19 and 3 stars were Tanner King, Cameron Robinson and Dawson Bruce.
The Muskies now move onto the Semi-Finals against a very strong Midland team and will have to raise their intensity and level of play if they hope to move further along.
The Bantam BB Muskies would like to congratulate coach Terry Thomson, his staff and his Bantam AE team on a successful playoff run into the OMHA Quarterfinals. A tremendous accomplishment for a young team with a short bench. Good job Muskies!