Jan 09, 2015 | jrupert | 794 views
Peewee Express open SCMHA playoffs with big back to back wins
The Ponting Financial Group Ingersoll Express Peewee Rep team began their quest to repeat as SCMHA 'A' Champs this week, winning two big games against the Delhi Travellers and Plattsville Rage.
The team started off travelling to Delhi on Tuesday, January 6th to open the 2014-2015 Season playoffs. From the opening puck drop Ingersoll controlled the play and the game. The Express defence group took away any possible chance that Delhi may have had to stay in the game, keeping all the shots out of danger and making it a relatively easy night for goaltender Logan White. The forward group poured on the offence, beginning midway through the first period on a goal by Parker Hodgson, which would prove to be the winner. That was followed by a natural hat trick for Brennan Rupert, another added by Hodgson and then a nice goal by Joel Verspeeten who had been mired in a bit of a scoring slump. The assists for the game were shared by a number of different players, including Verspeeten, Aidan Brown, defencemen Daniel Martineau, Marissa Freeman and Nathan Graham, and Hodgson.
The team returned home on Thursday night to host the Plattsville Rage, with the same result. This time the teams played through a much closer first period, with the score being 1-0 for Ingersoll at the end of one. Plattsville tied it up late in the second period, but then with 0:09 seconds on the clock Ingersoll added a power play goal to take the one goal lead back. Ingersoll then came out of the gate flying in the third and completely dominated. When the final buzzer sounded, Ingersoll was on the good end of an 8-3 victory, thanks to more offensive firepower from Rupert and Hodgson (3 each), as well as singles by Symon Hutcheson (a beaut) and Isaac Westlake. Assists were spread out again, with Daytn Racicot, Daniel Martineau, Joel Verspeeten, Westlake, Rupert and Hodgson all getting credit for helpers.
The team next takes to the ice on Sunday, January 11 when they host the Paris Wolfpack in game #1 of the OMHA playoffs. Game time is 8:00 pm at the Ingersoll District Community Centre.