Jan 19, 2016 | jlalonde | 1028 views
PARIS WOLFPACK ATOM AE ON TO THIRD ROUND OF OMHA PLAYDOWNS
The Paris Wolfpack Atom AE team kept things rolling after their first round sweep of the Tillsonburg Tornadoes defeating a talented and highly skilled Caledonia Thunder team last night in front of a packed Ice Palace.
The second round match up of the OMHA Play downs seen us matched up against the highly favorites Caledonia Thunder. Down 4-0 after 2 periods in Caledonia's barn our coaching staff had a little motivational speech during the third intermission telling our boys to play our style even if we didn't win lets get a couple past their keeper and make things interesting. What the players didn't know is that if we got one in the momentum could easily change into our favour. It wasn't until the 12:01 marker of the third when it all happened!!! Our captain Owen L rifled a shot past the keeper to get our troops going. Paris rallied scoring minutes apart when our sparkplug Emerson N potted 3 consecutive goals set up by Owen L twice and Caiden G tying the game 4-4. After getting called for a penalty late in the game Caledonia quickly responded going ahead 5-4 with 1:17 left in the game and our goalie fresh to the bench Owen L got his fourth point of the night tying the game once again 5-5 their was no quit in this team. With just .054 seconds left in the game Mr Clutch Jack Cortina sealed the deal with a nifty goal leaving Caledonia's team and fans stunned. The second game was a much tighter contest as both teams played better defence and the goalies made unbelievable save after save keeping both teams in the contest. After two periods Caledonia was up 2-1 setting up an exciting finish. With 3:00 minutes left in the game and Caledonia getting themselves into penalty trouble Paris opted to gamble and pull our goalie. The boys controlled the play the entire time but fell on tough luck and just couldn't put one in as the series was all even at 1 now. The third game again featured tight checking as their seemed to be no space for any of the teams to move you could tell that this was going to be a mental game and that one mistake could prove costly for either team. Paris found themselves down 1-0 early again and had to find ways to get past Caledonia's Defence it wasn't until 4:47 of the second when Owen L buried a wrist shot tying it 1-1 Caledonia quickly responded again going ahead 2-1 late in the second down but not out our boys knew it was a matter of time and kept pressing it wasn't until 5:11 of the third when they got rewarded as Owen L took charge and got his second of the game tying it 2-2. The last five minutes witch seemed like eternity saw both teams going end to end resulting in nothing as both goalies stood on their heads. This set up an OT thriller that would send our fans and both into a frenzy as Owen L grabbed a loose puck in our zone rushed down the wing( Doug Stewart likes to call him young Bobby Orr ) beating 2 defence and putting the puck past a sprawling Caledonia keeper knotting his 3rd of the game this put Paris up 2-1 in the series heading home for a crucial game 4. This game we knew was a must win for both teams and before our game we addressed the importance of treating this like a championship game and the boys didn't disappoint they came to play as the very first shift saw Jack C put one in with a lot heart, work and determination. Caledonia responded quickly again as they knew the importance as well Owen L put Paris up 2-1 with a rocket from the point but again Caledonia was equal to the task tying it once again 2-2. The second period seemed to fly by as both teams seemed to settle in to their ways but with 56.7 seconds left Owen L got his second of the game putting Paris ahead and a lead that they wouldn't give up. The third was much of the same for Paris as Owen L got his fourth point of the night Jack C got his second and Emerson N responded as well. PARIS 6 CALEDONIA 3 This in no means was a easy series but our boys stuck to our game plan The coaching staff is so proud of each and every one of you our penalty killers Owen H Emerson N played a key role in this win only allowing 1 power play goal. Our defence of Jimmy ,Harry ,Carter and Owen L played amazing minutes and shutting down their potent offence. Our offence stayed aggressive and controlled most of the play in this series and only got stronger as it went on and last but not least our goaltender Lucas Radke who stole the show time and time again making key saves and putting us on to the next round. As a coach seing these boys perform from day 1 I knew there was something special about this group and they keep showing us time and time again what they can accomplish as a fan or parent you have to be proud seing these boys perform the way they do what a group!!!!! Owen L our captain stood up in the dressing room after our game and says this!!! I MAY HAVE GOTTEN ALL THE GOALS THIS GAME BUT IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT THAT GOT US TO THE NEXT ROUND THEIR IS MORE TO THIS GAME THEN SCORING ITS THE LITTLE THINGS THAT DONT MAKE THE SCORE SHEET THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!!!!!!!!! I AM SO PROUD OF EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU