Mar 15, 2013 | JRupert | 808 views
League Playoffs Continue
The R. McNiven and Sons Insurance Brokers Ingersoll Express Atom Rep team have continued their path through the league playoffs over the last two weeks, facing off against Tavistock, Twin Centre, Plattsville, Simcoe and Caledonia.
On February 26, the team traveled back up to Tavistock, still bummed from their loss in the OMHA playdowns and knowing full well that they can beat the Tavistock team. Ingersoll came out on a mission, and took it to Tavistock throughout the game. Start to finish, Ingersoll controlled the play, and when the final buzzer went, Ingersoll had taken the game with a 3-1 score.
Two nights later the team returned home to host Twin Centre. Having only faced this team once before this season, and that game being early on, the boys were somewhat unsure of what they were going to face. But they were also riding the high of being unbeaten in the first two games, and they came out and played hard to make sure. Starting off the scoring for Ingersoll was Nolan Adkins, with a nifty little unassisted play to open the scoring up. Adkins got in on the scoring again, tallying an assist on the second goal scored by Ben White, with an assist as well to Parker Hodgson. Hodgson finished out the scoring with a late goal, assisted by Daniel Martineau. Twin Centre was able to put two past Ingersoll netminder Logan White, but the team buckled down and held on for the win. Final score Ingersoll 3 Twin Centre 2.
After a rare week off, Ingersoll hosted Plattsville on Thursday, March 7. This was another tight back and forth game, with lots of the game played between the blue lines. Ingersoll forward Brennan Rupert netted the teams lone goal of the night, and although it wasn't enough for the win, it ensured the tie as Ingersoll's defensive play held Plattsville to one goal only. Final 1-1.
On Wednesday, March 13 the team travelled to Simcoe to face the hometown Warriors. Simcoe gave the team their toughest challenge to this point, and the Ingersoll team started to show some frustration in being unable to breakout of their own zone. Ingersoll played a great defensive game, keeping the puck to the outside and limiting the shots on net. Late in the second period Simcoe was finally able to put one past White, taking a 1-0 lead. But midway through the second Nolan Adkins was able to find the net through traffic while on a power play, and tied the score up at 1-1. The way the last few games had been going, it looked like this one may finish in another tie as well, but it was not to be as Simcoe scored a late third period goal to go up 2-1. After that Simcoe just continued their forecheck and Ingersoll had a tough time clearing the zone. The team did have a few more chances on net, but the Simcoe goaltender was sharp and turned them all away. Final score Simcoe 2 Ingersoll 1.
The next night the team returned home to play their second of 7 (possibly 8) games in a 6 day span, hosting Caledonia. The Express came out pressing hard, and were rewarded for their hard work midway through the first period with another goal from the point by Nolan Adkins making its way past a screened goaltender. Caledonia fought back though, and were able to put a shot past Logan White to even the score at 1-1. The teams skated through the second period with no one able to break the tie, but Ingersoll continued to press. In the third period, Ben White found the back of the net on a feed from Brennan Rupert in the slot. Ingersoll continued their pressure on Caledonia, but late in the third period Caledonia was able to capitalize on a tired shift and slide a rebound under Logan White to tie the game up at 2-2. After that neither team was able to finish the other off, and the score ended in another 2-2 draw.
The team travels to Huntsville to play in the Huntsville Knights of Columbus Tournament. The team will face host Huntsville on Friday, March 15, then Ennismore and Ayr on Saturday, and Paris on Sunday morning, with the final game being played on Sunday afternoon. Ingersoll will finish up the league playoffs round robin next week, with a game Monday night in Waterford, and then return home on Thursday night to host Delhi.