Paris and Tavistock were well overdue for a rematch game, since we last
faced each other back on
November 21/15, at which time, our Wolfpack won 3-2 over the Titans.
Now in playoffs, both teams wondered how each of our teams would play
against one another.
Did we still have an edge over the Titans or have they sharpened their skills
and are looking to settle scores?
We would soon learn, over the course of the weekend of Feb. 20-21, how our team would fair against the Titans as we set out on a back to back game series.
Our first game was in Tavistock on Saturday evening. When we arrived the Tavistock Titans Bantam Rep team were in full heated play against the Waterford Wildcats; in what turned out to be a penalty filled game with players being ejected by the minute. This drama delayed the start of our game; fortunately, it didn’t faze our players, nor influence the style of either of our teams’ game. In fact, both of our teams went on to play a penalty free game, to the relief and amazement of our referees, who just finished dishing out a period and a half in penalty minutes in the preceding game.
As the puck dropped and our game started both teams played hard vying for a goal and chased for an early lead in the game; however, this only came in the second period with Tavistock finding the first goal of the game. The second period did not end before a second goal; unfortunately, which came off of a Tavistock stick, putting the Titans up a two goal lead against the Wolfpacks.
Going into the 3rd period the Wolfpack knew that it was time to take more control of the game which they lived up to and held off the Titans from scoring for much of the third period and even came back to score one past the Titans goal keeper to close the score to 2-1. By the end of the third period the Wolfpack were skating hard and gambled by pulling our goalie to add a sixth skater; unfortunately, Paris ran out of time to further score and Tavistock won 3-1. Congrats to Braden for earning the only goal of the game, assisted by Gavin.
The next evening we hosted the Tavistock Titans on our home ice in Paris to the amusement of our local Wolfpack clan, our players didn’t disappoint as they played exceptionally well, controlling much of the play and the puck for a greater portion of the game which was evident in the final tied 2-2 score of our game. Although, there was some disappointment our team didn’t secure a win, we were happy that we earned our first tie of the season. Success, once again, to Braden and Gavin for each earning a goal during this game and reciprocating assists on one another’s goals.
Excellent plays by all Bantam LL1 players for raising their level of game, tenfold, as admitted by all coaches, even the referees and the opponent coaches had to give props to our goaltender Ethan for playing an outstanding game.
Great job, by our defence, with rushing the puck up the ice, taking some great shots from the point and being more firm in front of the net.
Forwards need to be commended for successfully taking more, direct shots on net and earning more rebounds and setting up shots from the point. Your efforts and new strategies were dually noted and respected by the coaching staff.
The end of our playoff series will occur in the coming weekend as we hit the road for back to back games, first in Ayr on Saturday to challenge the Flames then on Sunday for our final playoff game against the Hespeler Shamrocks, don’t miss out on what will be a guaranteed, great final two games.