Wasaga Beach Minor Hockey got the B Pool Championship Series everyone was looking for....a match-up between the Atom #1 and Atom #2 team and it did not disappoint.
Game #1 of the series was a microcosm of the entire year with momentum swinging both ways. Atom #2 started off the game strong and dominated play through the first two periods and it showed on the scoreboard as well. Noah M of the Atom #2 team put the first goal on the board after a great feed from behind the net by Jack B. and then Zij M took a cross ice feed from Ben P to put the lead at 2 - 0 and finally Ben made a backhand pass from behind the net that Zij jumped on again to add to the Atom #2 lead and the score was 3 - 0 at the end of two periods. The #2 team was riding high with the defense of Zach P, Emma P, Jackson R, Chyna S, and Heather R shutting down any chances the #1 team could generate. The momentum then went the other way in the third period and the Atom #1 team was able to score three goals to tie the game and everyone in the arena was on the edge of their seats as the both teams traded chances as the end of the third period approached. It was the Atom #2 team who was able to respond and Jacob D. took a pass from behind the net and sniped it past the Atom #1 goalie to seal the game one victory for the Atom #2 team and put them up 1 -0 in the best of 3 series.
Game #2 of the series started the same as game #1 with the Atom #2 team dominating play through the first period but they were unable to capitalize on their chances and the game remained 0 - 0 at the start of the second period. The Atom #1 team then came out firing in the second period and after they scored the first couple goals the Atom #2 team seemed to lose a little fight and the #1 team jumped all over them to build a 6 - 0 lead and they never looked back although Ben P was away to break the shutout bid by scoring a late goal.
The win by the #1 team set up a do or die 3rd game and it was obvious both teams wanted to end their season with a win and the pool B Championship.
Game #3 delivered everything that Atom #2 team could ask for. Prior to the game Coach Mike delivered the pep talk of the year and the line of the year by encouraging the team to turn their pre-game butterflies into dragons and come out firing. The #2 team took their coaches word to heart and came out and dominated puck possession and the first period overall. The defense added to the domination holding the #1 team to barely a shot through the period and to top it off, near the end of the period, Matt M. took a quick pass from Jack B from behind the net and scored the vitally important first goal of the game. The message between periods was to continue the consistent play and maintain the effort on both the offensive and defensive side of the puck and although the #2 team wasn't able to add to their goal total the ice remained tilted in their favour and behind the great goaltending of Gavin S the score remained 1 - 0 entering the third period. The #1 team played for their lives at the start of the 3rd period but Gavin continued to shine and after a great glove save, that he made look easy, the #2 team turned up the heat and Ben jumped on a rebound and jammed in the second goal of the game for the #2 team with assists going to Zij and Zach. With almost half the third period to go the game was far from over and the #2 team knew they would have to keep the pedal to the metal to ensure the result they needed They they fought off a questionable penalty call and with just over 2 minutes left in the game the team could see the Championship was in sight. The #1 team pulled their goalie to try and make up the 2 - 0 deficit but it was all for not when Ben sealed the game with an empty net goal to make the final score 3 -0. The celebration was on and the #2 team swarmed their goalie with gloves and sticks flying in the air as they celebrated their Pool B Championship.
Congratulations to the Team, Parents and Coaching Staff. What a great way to end the GBTLL season and lets go get them in St. George next weekend.
Go Stars Go.
