Louie's Start O.M.H.A. Playdowns with a Win
O.M.H.A Playdowns are a season onto themselves; a new
season. This new season started last
night for Louie’s Pizza Pasta as they hosted the Caledonia Thunder for the
first game of their Playdown series.
When these two teams last met In Ingersoll on November 16, Louie’s dominated the first period and led 2-0 as the period ended. This was in sharp contrast to the first period in last night’s game.
From the game-opening face-off until the period ending buzzer, last night’s first period was a full ten minutes of well-played hockey. Caledonia’s defense played strong and true to their positions, making it difficult for the Louie’s offensive front to manoeuvre their way through to the net. Louie’s famed line of #6 Eric Savoie, #7 Tyler Arts and #17 Ryan Cooper would be the first to successfully manoeuvre through Caledonia’s solid defensive front, when, at 6:31, Savoie would capably put the puck past the Caledonia net-minder. It took only fourteen seconds for Caledonia to tie it up with a shot from the Louie’s blue line. It would be the only goal the Louie’s net-minder, #1 Noah Robinson, would allow for the night.
The first period seemed to end quickly. There were no penalties and only two goals scored, one by each team. There could only be anticipation as the puck dropped to begin the second period.
The line of Savoie, Arts and Cooper would once again find a way through the strong Caledonia defensive front. At 12:20, Savoie put the puck inside the Caledonia net, ever-so-safely. Louie’s captain, #15 Tyler Goyette, with help from #16 Tanner Moon, would purchase some offensive insurance when he scored at 11:54. The celebration had just ended when, at 11:49, Goyette was called for interference and escorted to the penalty box, where he would watch his team successfully deny Caledonia’s power-play.
With the score 3-1 in Louie’s favour, the third period started at a fevered pace. After two solid periods of strong two-way hockey, Caledonia would dig deep and quicken the pace of their concise game. Goyette suffered a case of déjà vu as he watched the game from the penalty box, after being called for interference at 13:06. Goyette hadn’t any more than stepped back onto the ice when the referee’s whistle sounded. This time it would be Caledonia who would spend two minutes in the penalty box for interference at 11:06. The heightened pace and intensity of the game seemed to be resulting in penalties, as Louie’s #11 Kyle Rachar would receive a two-minute slashing penalty at 12:04; it would be the last penalty of the game.
Caledonia did not lessen their heightened level of play and Louie’s was able to match it with a heightened game of their own. Robinson played brilliantly in the Louie’s net, denying each and every offensive attempt made by Caledonia, who seemed to get stronger with each and every offensive surge. Louie’s was playing defensive hockey now. The team remained calm and capable. With about one minute left in the period, Caledonia pulled their goalie to allow an increased offensive front. Robinson and his team would be invincible. Louie’s would own the puck, even in their own end, where Savoie put it on the stick of #16 Tanner Moon, who would skillfully skate it into the neutral zone. Once the empty net was in sight, he would score the game’s final goal with 25.2 seconds left on the clock.
At the post-game media conference, Craig Robinson, head coach for Louie’s had this to say about his team’s effort in game 1.
“We started out the O.M.H.A.'s on the right foot tonight. Everyone continued to play as they have been lately, working hard. The line of Cooper, Savoie and Arts continues to dazzle with their passing prowess, making amazing plays out of what seemed like nothing. They put the game on their back scoring the first two goals, and continued to sizzle even when we switched to a defensive style of game.
It may sound like an old cliché saying there is no "I" in team, but that is how our team is playing right now. We are playing as a team on the fore check and the back check, and again we kept the penalties to a minimum. Even when we had penalty troubles on the five on three against, everyone dug deep, stayed calm and kept the chances to a minimum.
Over the last few games, I also keep reminding myself what a luxury it is having the two best goalies in the league on our team. You know you can't go wrong whoever is in between the pipes, and that gives the team confidence going into the game.
It will be a different game on Thursday in Caledonia on the bigger ice surface, but I think we are ready for it, and can't wait for puck drop.”
Game 2 of this series takes place this Thursday at 8:15 PM in Caledonia.