|
By far the most evenly played game of the series and perhaps
the only game in which the Waxers deserved to win saw Markham's season come to
an end thanks to an unfortunate bounce that became the series winning goal.
It was a terrific experience for the Waxers, as they met an experienced
Wellington Dukes team that will now make their second consecutive appearance in
the OPJAHL Finals. A special note of congratulations to the Dukes and
their fans who represent everything that Junior hockey should be - the Waxers
wish you all the best in the finals!
Wellington opened the scoring in the first scoring just under 7
minutes in to the game. They then padded their lead to 2-0 on an innocent
looking shot just minutes in to the second period. At that point,
Wellington had held the majority of the play as the Waxers worked themselves
out of early penalty trouble, but after that goal, the game slowly became
Markham's. The Waxers cut in to the lead on a power play with just 2:01
left in the middle frame. Buzzing around the Dukes' net, Liam Bowen
pounded the puck at the net and smacked at his own rebound but was stopped a
second time. Ben Cottreau then came swooping through the crease, grabbed
the loose puck and roofed it to make the score 2-1 heading in to the third
period.
The Waxers played their most inspired period to date and had
many terrific chances to win. The most important may have been when a
penalty shot was awarded to Pat Porretta after being hauled down on a
breakaway. Porretta strode in and fired a shot through the legs of the Dukes'
goalie who somehow deflected the puck with his toes and the puck bounced off
the post and went wide. Shortly after, with the Dukes on the power play,
the game winning goal was scored in what was an apt manner. As a Duke
forward was circling behind the net, Joe Rothwell threw out a poke check and
the puck went straight up in the air from behind the net. The puck
travelled right over the mesh and then hit an unsuspecting Scott Gray in the
back of the goalie mask, ran down his back and in to the net for what would
become the series winning goal. At that point there was 12:23 left on the
clock and the Waxers poured their hearts out trying to tie the game. They
got within one as Bowen scored on a slightly broken 3-on-2 rush, assisted by
Jason Duffy and Kevin
Cribari, when he gathered a loose puck at the tops of the
circles and buried a high wrist shot for the final Waxer goal of the
season. Wellington would salt away the victory with an empty net goal in
the final minute.
The Waxers want to thank the fans who attended Friday's game
and were so vocal in their support throughout the evening. A bittersweet
moment for the boys as their season came to an end on home ice, but the
standing ovation from the fans that lasted a number of minutes at the end of
the night is something that eased the pain for the boys.
| G A M
E S U M M A R Y |
PERIOD
1
1. Wellington, Freeland (Beard, Rivers) 6:38.
PENALTIES: Cribari Mar (slashing) 1:06, Menonte Mar
(roughing) 4:35, Varty Wel (hooking) 11:06, Thompson Wel
(tripping) 12:58, Buckstein Mar (holding) 14:05, Davis Wel (delay
of game) 13:37, Cottreau Mar (elbowing) 16:26.PERIOD
2
2. Wellington, Thompson (Beard) 2:40.
3. Markham, Cottreau 5 (PP) (Bowen) 17:59.
PENALTIES: Rossi Mar Varty Wel (roughing) 0:58,
Duffy Mar (interference) 15:27, Caron Wel (tripping) 16:31 PERIOD
3
4. Wellington, Campbell (PP) (unassisted) 6:38.
5. Markham, Bowen 12 (Duffy, Cribari) 16:30.
6. Wellington, Varty (EN) (Woodward) 19:13.
PENALTIES: Bench Mar (too many men) 6:38, Steane
Mar (roughing, misconduct) Magagna Wel (roughing) 11:34.
GOALTENDERS:
Markham: Scott Gray, Wellington: Dayne Davis. |
| SHOTS ON
GOAL |
P1 |
P2 |
P3 |
OT |
FINAL |
| WELLINGTON
DUKES |
16 |
11 |
10 |
- |
37 |
| MARKHAM
WAXERS |
9 |
11 |
19 |
- |
39 |
|
