Submitted By: Mike Martineau.
The Shooters Photography Midget Local
League team hosted the Wolfpack January 27th at the Memorial Arena
in Ingersoll. With only twelve skaters in the line up, the Express managed to improve
their second half record to 2-0-1.
After a scoreless first period, the Express came out flying in the second. As Ingersoll pressed for the opening goal, defensemen Colin Van Dyk and Brendan Aarts did an excellent job of keeping the puck in at the blue line, which created two quality scoring chances for Matt Molnar, one in tight and a second on the wraparound. As Ingersoll continued to attack, Alex Schuett hit Tanner George with a beautiful cross ice pass, number 8 swiped at the puck but was too well covered by the Paris defender. Tyler Bergman just missed with a wicked wrist shot that was headed for the top corner blocker side. Max Branderhorst carried the puck the length of the ice and almost tucked a backhander in behind the Wolfpack goaltender. Ingersoll’s hard work eventually paid off when Liam Knox picked up a loose puck behind the Paris net and fed a pass into the slot area where Matt Molnar was waiting to snap it home. The Wolfpack pulled even a minute later, but Ingersoll fought back to regain the lead before the period ended when Tanner George deflected a Brendan Aarts slapshot into the net. Tyler Bergman earned an assist on the play.
Brendan Aarts potted a pair of goals in the third as Ingersoll built a 4-2 lead. The Wolfpack refused to die, pulling to within 1 at the 7:05 mark. A scrum to the side of the Ingersoll goal after the net had been knocked off its moorings resulted in an injury to a Paris forward and a man advantage for the visiting team. The Express killed the penalty, and with 1:31 left on the clock the Wolfpack were assessed a hooking penalty. Desperate to earn a point, Paris pulled their goaltender and the two teams battled five on five in the dying seconds. Ingersoll held on for the win, stretching their unbeaten streak in the second half to three games.
The Midget team will see action again on February 1st, when they travel to Waterford to take on the Wildcats.