The Tremblett’s Atom AE Express have pushed their 6
point series with Caledonia to game 5 Thursday evening in Caledonia. The Thunder were the top team in the Southern
Counties league but the Express have fought hard and forced game 5.
After losing the first game 1-0 in Caledonia, the Tremblett’s team hosted the Thunder in game 2. Caledonia scored late in the first to take the lead. Both teams exchanged chances but neither team could score until Caledonia squeaked one in with just over a minute to go in the contest. The Grocery boys lost the battle 2-0 and fell behind 2-0 in the series.
Game 3 in Caledonia was do or die for the boys. The Tremblett’s crew looked nervous early on and gave up a goal midway through the first to fall behind 1-0. The game was tight as usual with no more scoring through the remainder of the first and second periods. The Express started gaining momentum in the third period and continued to build as the period wore on but they still could not find the back of the net. With goaltender Seth Clark on the bench in favour of an extra attacker trying to tie the game and extend the series, Bryson Green managed to put one home on a hard shot from the wing. Hard work had paid off and earned the boys a trip to overtime. Assisting on Green’s tying goal were Parker Huitema and Ethan Capern who kept the puck in at the blueline and got the puck to Green. It looked as though overtime would solve nothing and the game would end in a tie leaving Caledonia 1 point from a series win. With 40 seconds left in overtime and a face-off in the offensive zone, Emmitt Robinson won the draw to Jax Nguyen on the boards. Nguyen got the puck behind the goal line where Robinson shovelled the puck from behind the net to Green in front. Green made no mistake giving the Grocery boys the overtime win with 18 seconds on the clock and sending the Caledonia team home disappointed.
Game 4 of the series was Sunday morning in Ingersoll, and again the Tremblett’s boys had their backs to the wall. The Express started strong, dominating the first period. With just over one minute remaining in the first, Luke Turner put a bullet in behind the Caledonia goaltender and for the first time in the series the boys were playing with the lead. Assisting on Turner’s goal was Jack Brown. As expected, Tremblett’s defense was strong in front of Clark keeping Caledonia’s chances to a minimum. The game was back and forth with no scoring through the second and most of the third. Ingersoll was assessed a too many men on the ice penalty with 3:40 to go and Caledonia would take advantage scoring almost immediately to tie the game. A winner could not be decided after three periods and the teams were off to overtime for the second consecutive game. Both teams had numerous chances but the goaltenders stood strong and the game ended in a 1-1 tie leaving the six point series at 5 points to 3 in favour of Caledonia. Game five goes Thursday in Caledonia in another must win game for the Tremblett’s boys.