It took five games, but the Gary
Edgecombe CA Peewee Rep Coyotes beat the Wasaga Stars and now advance
to round two with the Oro Thunder. Check out the photo highlights from all five games on the Peewee Rep homepage.
The Wasaga Stars took the first game 6-0. The Coyotes refocused as a team, practiced hard, and came back in game two with a spirited effort. They lost 5-4 in overtime, but learned that they could compete with the easily frustrated Stars. The Stars, with their penchant for penalties, ended game two with one coach ejected and two players tossed, one for three games.
Game three, rescheduled due to closed roads, saw two teams with shorter benches. Goalie, Brody Read, and the solid Elmvale defense pairings held Wasaga to one goal. Elmvale went on to win 2-1. Confidence was growing.
Game four, in front of an enthusiastic home crowd, saw the Coyotes take it to the Stars. The forwards won the battles in the corners, and the defense smothered the snipers. It ended 4-3, with Jacob Bouzis scoring an overtime goal off a rebound opportunity created by Jack Sneddon.
Game five was expected to be a battle, but the Stars had not recovered from two straight losses. The Stars, with 15 dressed skaters, seemed to be confused on their breakouts, and ineffective on their defense. The Coyotes, with a healthy line up once again, scored first. In the second with the score tied at one a piece, the Coyotes scored again and held their lead into the third. Early in the third, with the score now 3-1 for the Coyotes, a questionable four minute penalty was called against Elmvale. The team weathered the storm and only seemed to gain strength. When the game ended, the team erupted from the bench with joy and were congratulated by an enthusiastic crowd who had travelled to cheer them on.
Round two OMHA playoffs with the Oro Thunder should begin on the weekend. Oro finished fourth with 65 goals for and 63 against. Elmvale lost both regular season games to Oro 3-1. The Elmvale team found a way past Wasaga's blue line, and shut down their many sharp shooters. They should be able to do the same against Oro.