Mystery Surrounds Atom AE???
After being bumped from the OMHA playdowns (a close 5 game series with Tavistock), the Atom AE Icedogs played a 5 team round robin and finished a respectable 4-4 (I’m counting the non game with Howick as a win). In the next playoff round BCH was scheduled to play a best 3 of 5 with Milverton rep.
For the first game of the series the team traveled to Milverton. Despite
losing twice to Milverton in the regular season, the Icedogs played
well on the big ice surface there and with 6 minutes to go the score was
4-2 Milverton. The Icedogs were playing well, creating chances and
applying pressure in the other team’s end but couldn’t quite convert the
goals. Then disaster struck. A breakdown and a scramble in the BCH end
gave the home team 2 quick goals and took the momentum away from the
Icedogs. The final score was 7-2 for Milverton. Disappointing but not a
huge surprise.
Game 2 was held in Clinton, and here is where the mystery begins. The Icedogs were down to 9 skaters (March Break claimed 2 of our forwards), but that was fine and they were clearly fired up… not at all concerned about the score in game 1. They played as if they intended to make every coaching cliché they’d ever heard come to life…
Win the races to the puck…CHECK
Battle for the puck…CHECK
Fore check…..CHECK
Back check….CHECK
Talk to each …CHECK
Don’t stay on too long…CHECK
Be sure you get out of your own end…CHECK
Go to the net…CHECK
Body…CHECK???
Final score BCH 6 Milverton 1
WOW…CHECK!!!
Every player played every shift to the best of their ability. Nobody took a shift off (more clichés). Then the mystery grew even stranger…Game 3.
In game 3 the Icedogs traveled back to Milverton and the big ice. The players were loose before the game but the coaching staff was a bit tense….which group of players would be on the ice tonight? The Icedogs put in another stellar performance which may have been their best all around team performance. It certainly was their largest offensive output of the season. BCH 12 Milverton 0. The coaches have contacted Scotland Yard for assistance in solving this mystery. Game 4 goes Tuesday night in Milverton and the Icedogs have a chance to wrap up the series with a win. Goooo Icedogs!
Submitted by Brent Lingard
