The Gary Edgecombe CA Peewee Rep
Coyotes' run for OMHA glory ended in three games against the
well-prepared Penetang Flames, but the team has rebounded from the
disappointment with a win and a loss in round robin Georgian Bay 'A'
playoffs.
Game one of the second round OMHA playoffs against Penetang started off well for the Coyotes. They took a 2-1 lead quickly in the first period and pressured the Flames in their own end. The Flames were able to slow the pace in the second period and take advantage of the tight corners to intercept passes. The Flames scored twice and started the third period with a lead. The Coyotes took a careless penalty with ten minutes to go and the Flames padded their lead with a power play goal. With one minute to go, the Coyotes pulled William McDowell, their goalie, but unable to maintain control, the game ended in a 2-5 loss.
Game two in Elmvale saw Penetang take immediate control of the rink. The slow starting Coyotes gave up an early goal without much of a challenge. The second period saw Coyote defenseman, Jeremy Robertson, make several attempts to carry play into the Flames end, but without scoring opportunities. Elmvale started the third period shorthanded and managed to survive a barrage of shots. Three minutes later, Penetang capitalized on a two-on-one and improved their lead to two. Once again, the Coyotes pulled their goalie, Adam McIntaggart this time, and the final buzzer sounded as a pile of players pushed and shoved against the boards.
Facing an all-too-familiar elimination game, the Coyotes suited up in Penetang for game three. The emotional ending of game two was forgotten by the Coyotes, and the Flames took control. Penetang ended the first period up 0-2, one goal coming from a power play. The Flames ran into penalty trouble in the second period, but the Coyotes could not capitalize. The Flames scored a shorthanded goal making it 0-3. Facing imminent elimination, the Coyotes showed some life. Jason Priest, Jack Nell, and Jake Bouzis scored. Penetang scored a power play goal and an empty netter to end the game 3-5, and the series - three games straight. The Coyotes won two periods of this series convincingly, battled for a few, but gave the rest away. The Flames played every period but the first with a hunger, that if maintained, could take them to the OMHA finals.
One day later, the Coyotes drove to Owen Sound for their first Georgian Bay Playoff game. They are ranked 5th of six teams in the 'A' pool. The top two teams will play off for the championship. After a scoreless first period, Elmvale opened the floodgates. Owen Sound responded twice in the second period, but by the end of the this wide-open game, Elmvale earned a 5-4 victory.
The Georgian Shores Lightning came to Elmvale for a Friday, February 7, Night game, confident after shutting the Coyotes out 0-4 in their only regular season meeting. The Coyote defense took control of the Lightning shooters and limited their shots on net. The first period ended 1-1. The Lightning got two more goals by shooting through traffic in the second period. Coyote defenseman, Ben Dietrich, determined to give his team a chance, continued to block shots and pin pesky forwards to the board behind the net. Both teams managed to score once more, giving Georgian Shores a 4-2 win.
The Peewee Rep Coyotes next home game will be Friday, February 21, against the Midland Centennials. Come on out and support the team.