Dec 31, 2012 | SCorrigan | 346 views
Christmas Torunament: Finals Day Recap
What a treat yesterday was for players and fans a like. The day featured 4 games that showcased all the best that Minor Atom HL has to offer. A case could be easily made that none of the teams deserved to lose one of those games, but in the course of a torunament there has to be losers and winners when you look at the scoresheet. Yet, if you put the scoresheet aside few fans could find fault with the entertainment they received as the players put it all on the line.
In the first game, the consolation, we had an original six battle. This game went back and forth with 3 lead changes. It was fast paced. It was physical, but not dirty. It was pure entertainment. In the end the Habs prevailed 6-5. The Habs did not rely upon the usual suspects for their offense and it was spread around rather evenly. Still the play of Tyler Spiegelhalter (2g) and Mathew Corriveau (2a) with some nice give and go plays stood out. For the Leafs Luke Meadus recorded yet another hat trick on the season and he was matched point wise by Braedan De Mann (1 g, 2 a).
Next up was the semi final game between the Penguins and the Sharks. Going in to the game the high flying first place Penguins had only lost to the Sharks, in what has been a dominating season for them to date. This was the fastest and most physical game of the entire day. The rushes were end to end. The Sharks scored and the Penguins tied it up. The Sharks scored again. Midway through the third Dylan Corrigan was sprung free on a break away after a nifty pass by Daniel Hernandez and scored what proved to be the game winner. The Penguins did not fold up but simply cranked up the pressure. A penalty late gave them a power play and they even pulled their goalie. During that stretch John Bulten and Ryker Gray both hit goal posts on a pair of great rushes. The game was even in the balance when the Penguins managed a 3-0 rush with 17 seconds left and Caleb Hamilton's rocket of a shot was deflected just wide by the glove of Sean Kennedy.
The second semi final was between the Bruins and the Flyers. It was hard to imagine it matching the drama and intensity of the previous semi final, but the players would not disappoint. The first period belong entirely to the Flyers. Repeated rushes by a line consisting of Ben George, Cameron Bonneville and Logan Kennedy built up a 2-0 lead and were it not for the play of Martina Incitti this would have been an ugly blow out. The brief intermission break was just what the doctor ordered for the bruins as the coaching staff got them refocused. The second was a much more balanced period and the Bruins pulled close with a power play goal by Linzee Brodhaecker - a timely moment for her first goal of the season. The third period was dominated by the Bruins who kept pressing and Bryn Palin notched the equalizer. The game went to a 4 on 4 overtime. Then a second 4 on 4 overtime. Then a 3 on 3 third overtime. Then a 2 on 2 fourth overtime. After a half dozen chances by each team it came down to Ben George scoring on a break away. This was an incredible game.
The stage was set for a showdown between the Sharks and Flyers, the 5th meeting between these teams this year, with the Sharks having won the first two meetings 3-2 and 4-1 and the Flyers having won the last two 2-0 and 4-1. The Flyers came out skating hard and put the Sharks on the defensive early. They were rewarded with a pair of goals by Logan Kennedy. The second period showcased a pair of all star defenseman. Zach Braga gave the Sharks some life early on by taking the puck from his own end and streaking down the wing stickhandling by 3 Flyers and then firing a shot just under the cross bar. The Flyers were not to be out done as Ethan Reynolds had a rush of his own and a nifty goal to restore the 2 goal lead. The third belonged to the Sharks as they demonstrated the fierce forecheck and solid passing they have become known for. The tieing goal was notched with just over three minutes to go. That set the cue for Dylan Corrigan to notch his second game winner of the day on hard shot from the hash marks with two minutes to go. The Sharks added an insurance marker and at the final buzzer the score was 5-3. The players on both teams wore their hearts on their sleeves. The thrilling game was put in perspective as teary eyed and jubilant players expressed genuine and sincere congratulations in a ceremony as old as hockey - the postgame handshake.