The Thamesford Pizza AE Rep team travelled
to Plattsville for their second last road game of the first half and left with
a well-earned and deserved victory as the team showed their skating ability for
a full three periods. Combined with some creativity and confidence and a
consistent fore-check, the Express may have played one of their best games of the
season to date as they moved the puck with crisp passes and finally showed some
control on the powerplay.
While the hometown Rage opened the scoring just 1:29 into the game they would hold their only lead for 4:51. The Express would tie the game and take the lead in one shift as the line of Tyler Bergman, Joey Parkhill and Evan Wade went to work. The trio scored two goals in 0:42 seconds with Bergman getting both and assists on both goals to Parkhill and Wade. Both goals were similar plays that saw Parkhill and Wade play catch with the puck behind the Rage net and eventually finding an open Bergman out front.
Celebrating Tyler's first goal.
Heading into the second with a 2-1 lead, the visitors did not waste any time in building on it as they scored two more goals in the opening minute of the second period. Forward Ben Scott scored 0:23 seconds into the period when he knocked in a rebound past the Plattsville goalie who made the initial save on defenseman Colin VanDyk’s point shot. 0:28 later Parkhill would get his first goal of the game and third point of the night when he made a nice tip on defenseman Cam White’s wrist shot from the point. Bergman picked up the secondary assist for his third point of the game.
Luke holds down the front and clears the puck away.
Heading into the third with a four goal lead the visitors played solid defense and continued to skate and out work and out hustle the Rage. Plattsville would score twice more in the third period to close the gap but Bergman would add an unassisted goal with 7:04 left to finish off his hat trick and a four point night.
Kieghan takes the body and forces a turnover.
The line of Bergman, Parkhill and Wade finished the night with a combined 9 points. Goalie Dawson Sharpe was steady in net and was never really tested for any extended period of time as the team kept the Plattsville chances to a minimum.
The team plays its final league game of the first half on Friday Dec. 22 when they travel to Paris.
GAME STATS:
Goals: Tyler Bergman (Hat Trick), Joey Parkhill (ES), Ben Scott (ES)
Assists: Cam White, Joey Parkhill (2), Evan Wade (2), Colin VanDyk
Penalties: Plattsville = 14 minutes (1 double minor, 5 minors)
Ingersoll = 6 minutes
Powerplay: 1 / 7
Penalty Kill: 3 / 3