The South Bruce Atom Reps won the W.O.A.A. championship
Tuesday night in Wingham, as they defeated a strong Wingham team. It was not an easy task for the South Bruce
team to sweep the series three straight.
With South Bruce being able to offer up first ice and Wingham winning the coin toss for game 3, game one was set in Mildmay, February 11. Having faced Wingham in exhibition play at the beginning of the season and the game ending in a tie, and Wingham beating the South Bruce team by 1 goal in the regional Silverstick final we knew it was going to be a great series.
Both teams started the game with intensity and passion as each team was hungry for the first victory of the series. The South Bruce team would open the scoring in the first period but the Wingham squad would continue to press hard and tie it at 1 late in the period. Period 2 would was full of great passing, hard fought battles in the corners and around the net by both teams only to see the South Bruce team finding a way to get the puck across the line to take a 1 goal lead to end the second. The third period saw both teams not ready to give up as each shift seemed to get more intense with no signs of letting up. South Bruce would find a way to get one more puck past the Wingham net minder to give them a 2 goal lead midway through the period. With both teams giving it their all, the Wingham squad found a way to get the puck behind the South Bruce goalie to cut the lead to 1. As the period pressed on and fatigue setting in, tempers would flare and frustration would get the best of Wingham team as an unfortunate and undisciplined penalty would be taken resulting in five minute major and a three game suspension. The South Bruce team would be able to hold on to their 3-2 lead to win game 1. The South Bruce goalie faced a game total of 16 shots for the victory. Point getters in the game were Zach V., Jon E., Noah W., Kaiden C. and Gil S.
With a few days off before game 2 in Wingham, the South Bruce team would have a chance to rest, reflect and prepare for what should be another exciting and challenging game, but on this Valentine’s Day, Wingham would not be asked, “would you be my Valentine”. The South Bruce team was pumped and ready for action. With the drop of the first puck South Bruce would win the draw, get past the “D” and pot a quick one 11 seconds into the period. With the team pumped up the South Bruce squad would continue to press, shut down the opposing offense and work hard winning puck battle after puck battle to earn them a 2 goal lead to end the period. The second period saw both teams continue to battle hard but it would seem that the South Bruce team was a little more determined to get the win. Strong defensive play shutting down the Wingham attack, hard back checking, great passing and play would reward the team with 5 goals in the second to give them a 7-0 leading heading into the third. The third period would see more of the South Bruce team work together and finding the team able to slip one more puck past the Wingham net minder, cruising to a surprising 8-0 victory. The South Bruce goalie was able to stop all 14 shots he faced to record his first shutout of the series. Point getters in this game included, Nigel K., Ethan D., Tyler H., Ashlyn B., Gil S., Jon E. and Zach V.
With a surprising tilt on the last game against Wingham the South Bruce team would squeeze in a game of the W.O.A.A. Cruikshank round robin the next day against Mitchell. Not knowing what to expect as the team has never faced them before the South Bruce team would have to come out hard. The South Bruce squad tried putting the pressure on early but the Mitchell team was prepared keeping our squad from getting too close to their net minder for much of the game. The Mitchell team was able to move the puck really well and kept the pressure on forcing the South Bruce net minder to come up with many great saves. South Bruce would strike first however to take a 1 goal lead. Battling back and forth in both ends would result in a second South Bruce goal giving the South Bruce team a 2 goal leading heading into the third. The Mitchell team not willing to give up kept the pressure on and that would reward them with a goal cutting the lead in half. With both teams skating hard and moving the puck well Mitchell would find a way to tie the game late in the third forcing the game to overtime. Overtime saw both teams giving it their all with neither team ready or willing to wave the white flag only to find the game end in a dead lock. The South Bruce goalie would face 27 shots allowing only 2 goals as he made many great and difficult saves. Point getters in the game were, Noah W., Nigel K., Jon E. and Zack V.
With only 1 day of rest if you could call it that, as I am sure everyone was busy with all the family day events that were going on in the region, game 3 was sure to be a fast paced and intense. With Wingham facing elimination and a chance for the South Bruce team to advance to the semifinals of the OMHAs and win the W.O.A.A. championship, we would have to wait and see which team would want it more? The pace of the game was surprisingly sluggish at first as it seemed as though both teams were not sure why they were on the ice. The South Bruce goalie did not even see a single shot his way as the Wingham goalie faced 11 shots leaving the first period scoreless. After a quick break between periods the coaches must have been able to inspire the teams to move their feet as the pace of the game picked up. South Bruce was able to open the scoring two and a half minutes into the second period to get the team moving. One minute late South Bruce would find the back of the net again to take a 2 goal lead. After running into penalty trouble on and off the bench the South Bruce team would capitalize on a break as the defense was able to make a beauty pass to a player coming out of the penalty box to send the South Bruce player on break away, and he made no mistake as he roofed the puck over the goalies glove to give the South Bruce team a 3 goal lead heading into the third. The third period would see the South Bruce team dominate as the defense was able to shut down the attack and only allowing two shots on goal for the period while the forwards continued to press. South Bruce would score another beauty through the five hole of the Wingham net minder. This would give the South Bruce team a 4 nothing final score, giving the South Bruce goalie his second shutout of the series. Point getters in the game were Blake E., Jon E., Ethan D., Tyler H. and Noah W.
This would crown the team the W.O.A.A. Atom “C” Champs! Way to work team!