A short staffed Ingersoll Carmeuse Lime Express Juvenile rep
team travelled to Hespeler Sunday night in which Ingersoll fell 6-0.
After a disappointing loss to Tavistock in the preliminary round OMHA series, the Express opened the Beechey “A” playoff round robin against the Hespeler Shamrocks. Due so carryover suspensions from the regular season finale in Glanbrook and other commitments, Ingersoll entered the game with only nine sakters against a Hesepler team that had a full roster. The Express were not able to call up any players as the midgets had a game as well on Sunday night. The Express actually only had eight regular skaters plus backup goalie Ryan Calder who put on players equipment and played defence for the first two periods before shifting to forward to the third period.
Hespeler would score the first goal of the game on a sharp angle shot about half way through the first period. The Shamrocks would score their second goal of the period on a partial breakaway to put Hespeler up 2-0. It appeared that Ingersoll had scored late in the period when Qwertay Dei used his speed to break in on the Shamrocks goalie and backhand a high shot that appeared to bounce of the back part of the net but the referee ruled the puck hit the cross bar.
Despite fatigue setting in, the Express played a strong second period. Ingersoll goalie James Allison made several big saves and Ingersoll had some opportunities to score but were unable to find the back of the net in a scoreless second period.
Thanks to a zamboni malfunction, the Express were able to get some much needed extra rest during the intermission. The third period saw the Express use Eric Savoie and Carter Franklin, who usually play forward, on defence and a defenceman, Kyle Rachar, and a backup goalie playing forward in order to try to spread out the workload for some gassed players. Despite a great effort, the Shamrocks took advantage of a tired Express team and scored four goals in the third period. The score would have been worse had it not been for some great saves by Allison. Certainly a very respectable effort by the Express with players playing out of normal positions.
Ingersoll will host Hespeler on Saturday night at 8:30. The Express will then travel to Beverly next Sunday evening to take on the Bandits at 7:45.