The Wasaga Beach Atom 1 Stars took control of first place in the Georgian Triangle Local League Central Division with a big 4-2 win over the Essa Eagles Atom 2 team.
With Max and Damian out with the flu, and Jackson on the sidelines, the Atom 1 Stars were playing with a short bench. But they were up to the challenge this beautiful fall afternoon at the Wasaga Stars arena. The Stars were pumped up for this one as they knew first place was on the line. With some words of encouragement from Coach Ralph, the Stars came out flying. Right off the opening face off, Maddox won the draw, split the 2 Essa defencemen and put one home to give Wasaga a quick 1-0 lead 9 seconds in. The kids held the Eagles in the offensive end for most the 1st period. Some great fore checking from Hunter and Ben, battling for the puck in the corners, popped one out to Hudson in front of the Essa net. Hudson hammered the puck home to put the Stars up 2. Before the period ended, the Eagles caught the Stars defence on a pinch and scored on a breakaway. The first ended with the Stars up 2-1.
The second period started with a lot of back and forth action. The dynamic duo on defence, Chyna and Kaleb made some great plays, clearing the Eagles in front of the net and out working them in the corners getting the pucks up to the forwards. With Luke in the box serving a tripping minor, Ben and Maddox were hustling on the penalty kill, making it hard for the Eagles to get anything going on the power play. With some hard work along the boards, Ben through the puck across the ice to Maddox who had his stick checked by the Essa defencemen. With another Eagles player back checking, He tried clearing the puck into the corner, only to put the puck in his own net giving. Heather was all over the Essa forwards, holding the puck in the Eagles zone, skating hard on the back check, and holding the puck along the boards during our penalty kill. The Eagles ended the period with a quick goal before the buzzer went and the frame ended with a 3-2 lead for the Stars.
The third period was a dual of the goalies. Dru "THE WALL" stood on his head, stoning the Eagles at every turn. He kept the Stars in the game with multiple breakaway saves. Jacob and Andrew were working their magic along the boards, making it hard for the Eagles to get past center ice. The Eagles were getting frustrated with the hard nosed checking of the Stars and started getting dirty, slashing, tripping and checking the Stars players. Finally Hudson had enough and drilled an Eagle to the ground, making him extinct but earned him 2 minutes in the sin bin. That didn't hurt the Stars at all, it pumped them up, showing their teammates sticking up for themselves. Lightning Luke got the puck along the boards turning on the after burners, blowing past 3 Essa defenders before putting the Stars up by 2. The last couple minutes of the game, the Eagles put on the pressure but with great defence and goaltending, the Stars held on to take the game 4-2.
The Stars player of the game went to Nasty Nate!! Nate was a force to be reckoned with all game. His hard back checking, poke checking and outlet passes earned him first star. He had a lot of great rushes and worked just as hard to get back. The coaching staff is proud of all the kids. They keep working hard and are getting better every practice and game.
GO STARS GO