January 19, 2015
1809
The Kincardine Legion Peewees competed at the Kincardine Regional Silver Stick (Dec. 27-30), completed the regular season games, and swept the Saugeen Shores Storm in their opening best-of-five playoff series.
The Peewees opened the Silver Stick tournament against Saugeen Shores. The Kinucks trailed early, but were able to score three goals in the final six minutes to win, 5-3. Goal-scorers were Noah Swann, Cale Gibson, Kaleb Smith, Zach Wall (with the game-winner) and Jordan Beisel with the empty-net strike. Assists went to Mitch Pyke, Nolan MacKinnon, Wall and Swann.
Game 2 was on day two of the tournament against Parry Sound, an opponent that the Kinucks knew nothing about. The home squad scored in each period and finished with a convincing 7-0 victory. Goals were scored by Liam Colhoun (3), MacKinnon (2), Gibson, and Smith. Helpers went to J. Beisel (3), Smith (2), Mack Beisel (2), Colhoun (2), Swann, and MacKinnon.
Game 3 was against the Penetang Flames, another team that the Kinucks were not familiar with. This was a fast-skating, tight-checking affair. The Kinucks were ahead 1-0 after the first on a goal from Liam Colhoun, unassisted. Penetang evened up the score heading into the final period. J. Beisel put the Kinucks ahead early in the third from Colhoun, but Penetang again drew even with just over three minutes remaining. The final was a 2-2 score.
The Kinucks had guaranteed themselves a berth in the semi-finals, they just didn't know their opponent until later in day three of the tournament.
The home town squad faced off against the Twin Centre Stars in the semi-final. The Kinucks had a terrible opening period to this one and found themselves trailing 4-0. However, the team has a relentless work ethic and the group collectively battled all the way back to tie the game at 4-4 with just 20 seconds remaining. The large Kincardine crowd at the Tiverton Arena was alive and buzzing. With momentum on their side, the Kinucks finished off the incredible comeback on a dandy goal from Captain Colhoun in the first overtime period. Setting up the winner were MacKinnon and J. Beisel. Other goal-scorers were MacKinnon (2), Smith and Swann. Assists were awarded to Colhoun, Swann, Wall, and Pyke.
Now, the boys were heading back to the Davidson Centre for the “B” division championship game against the Penetang Flames. In front of a very loud crowd, the Kinucks struck first with a goal from Noah Swann set up by Ethan Petrie, the lone goal of the game through two periods of play. However, the tide turned in the third as Penetang scored two goals within a minute span and the Kinucks could not overcome it. They battled to the end and certainly made all very proud of their efforts and determination throughout the whole tournament. Penetang went on to win the game and the tournament with a 4-1 victory.
Congratulations to the Kincardine Legion peewees for being finalists in the Regional Silver Stick. Players are forwards Mack Beisel, Jordan Beisel, Liam Colhoun, Kevin Coady, Nolan MacKinnon, Cale Gibson, and Noah Swann (affiliate player from the Atom rep. team). The four ORANGE crush'd men are Mitch Pyke, Zach Wall, Kaleb Smith and Ethan Petrie. The netminders are Hayden Richardson and Trent Courtney. Coaching staff includes Blair Pollock, Shawn Stewart, and Brett Catto.
FINAL TWO LEAGUE GAME RESULTS
The Kinucks closed out their final road game of the regular season in Brussels against the Blyth Brussels Crusaders. (Blyth-Brussels had just won the “C” division title at the Kincardine Regional Silver Stick tournament.) The Kinucks won the game, 4-1. Scorers were Gibson, J. Beisel, and Colhoun (2). Assists went to Wall, MacKinnon, Colhoun, Smith and J. Beisel.
The last home regular season game was in Kincardine against South-Bruce (Mildmay/Teeswater). Kincardine scored early and often in this contest, and skated off home ice with a dominating 10-0 victory. Goal scorers were M. Beisel (2), MacKinnon (2), Pyke (2), Colhoun (2), Gibson, and Wall. Helpers went to J. Beisel (5), Colhoun (4), M. Beisel (2), MacKinnon, and Wall.
OPENING PLAYOFF SERIES SWEEP OF SAUGEEN SHORES STORM
Kincardine opened its OMHA playoffs on home ice against Highway 21 rivals, the Saugeen Shores Storm, Sunday, Jan. 11.
This was a great game to watch as teams were competing extremely hard and it looked as if goals would be very hard to come by. The game was tied 1-1 after two frames. The Storm took the lead with two minutes remaining in the game. However, the refuse-to-lose Kinucks tied the game on the powerplay and goalie-pulled, with 30 seconds remaining, on a great deflection off the tape of Swann. The point shot and assist came from Smith.
And with momentum on the home team's side, Gibson ended the game in the first minute of overtime, with a quick release in the slot, on a nice feed from Petrie.
Saugeen Shores had won the flip so games two and three were played in Saugeen Shores. Game two was Thursday, Jan. 15, in Southampton. Kincardine took a 2-0 series lead with a 7-4 win. Goals came from Colhoun (2), MacKinnon (2), M. Beisel (game winning goal), Swann and Wall. Assists went to J. Beisel and Colhoun.
Now, the Kinucks faced one of the toughest challenges in all of sports, attempt to eliminate a rival on the road. Game three was Saturday, Jan. 17 at The Plex in Port Elgin. With the home town Storm leading 1-0 heading into the third period, it was a very nervous Kinucks fan base.
However, the players and coaching staff knew the best was yet to come. Starting the third on the powerplay, Colhoun evened the score on a set-up by Smith and Wall. This brought life to the team and Kincardine fans. MacKinnon struck on a shorthanded (beauty) breakaway to put the Kinucks ahead, assisted by Petrie.
Wall iced this game and series with a great rush and finished with a couple of minutes remaining, the loan assist went to Kevin Coady. J. Beisel added an empty-netter with seconds remaining, from Wall and Smith.
The series sweep was completed and the Kinucks will now wait for their second round opponent. either the Walkerton Capitals or the Listowel Cyclones, which are currently tied in their series, 1-1.
Please keep a close eye on the Kincardine Minor hockey website for future scheduled games.
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