The Atom Highlanders were hosts to a doubleheader against the Southern Tier Admirals on Sunday Feb. 5th.
The team welcomed AP John Pickett to the line-up. The first game started off with great speed and end to end action, with Talon Johnsen coming up big on a few occasions early in the game. The boys killed off a penalty and the whole team continue to play with speed, confidence and determination. Stewart, Aljoe, and Hinds made great offensive play, drove the net hard and Hinds buried it to put the Highlanders on the board. 1-0 after 1.
In the 2nd period Admirals bounced back with a power play goal to tie the game up at 1 apiece. The defenseman Fahrer, Bye, Torrie, Busby, Ferrier and English were all playing stellar in front of the cage, making nice break out passes and creating great pressure in the offensive end by pinching and keeping the puck down low. Johnsen continued to deny the Admirals in the second. The crowd was on the edge of their seats with a score of 1-1 after 2 periods.
Our Highlanders started off slow in the 3rd , got into some trouble in their own end and could not clear the puck, however, Johnsen was again able to close the door. Midway through the third, linemates Brown, Loosemore, and Pickett got the puck deep into the offensive end and Pickett laid the puck out front to Loosemore who cashed in a beauty to go up 2-1. Admirals in full speed retaliated with a goal on a rebound to tie the game at 2 apiece. Late in the third, Highlanders line Ahrens, Lina, and Black had an opportunity to go ahead and Admirals goalie made a great save on a shot from Lina. Admirals came back on a breakaway and scored to take the lead 3-2. Coach Ahrens pulled goalie in the trying seconds but we could not tie the game. This was an awesome game boys, your coaches and parents were proud!!!!!!!!!!
The parents of the Highlander team put on an excellent potluck lunch on for both teams and their families. The Admirals team all got together and thanked the Highlander team for the hospitality
2nd Game
This game started off slow for both teams, there might have been too much good food !!!
In the first period Admirals scored on a power play goal 1-0 after 1 . In the second period Mathew Donnelly made some great saves to keep the game within one. With a few penalties they played 4 on 4 with lots of ice and neither team could get close. The Admirals scored at 5:49 of the second to go up by 2.
Late in the second, due to a delayed penalty in the Admirals zone, multiple penalties were given to both teams.
Dawson Fahrer playing on forward, made a nice pass to Pickett in the slot, who got the shot away but was denied. 2- 0 after 2 periods .
The Admirals attacked again just over a minute into the third period and scored. Determined and solid, Donnelly continued to make several saves in the third to allow the team a chance to get back into the game.
In the end, the Admirals walked away with the win but were impressed with the progress that out Highlander Atom boys have made since their first encounter on Sunday October 2nd 2011.
Article written by Dennis Black
Then from a different perspective.......
The boys hit the ice with a vengeance Sunday afternoon game two against Welland back and forth play from both teams with stellar stops from Donnelly giving us a chance to win. The defense playing with their heart on their sleeves and the wingers skated like mad to help there pals on the blue line! It must be a crazy game because it took three refs to keep track of what was going on! Our centermen working like mad to make the perfect play and create chances for the boys on wing. Lina streaks in trying to bust through the D when wham! Into the corner they go and before you know it Lina getting pummelled. Will Black would have none of this and come to his rescue even though it might cost him a game! What a team mate! The final score was three zip for Welland but we won as a team.
The never say die attitude these fine young men have displayed in the last month is making us very hard to play against ! I am very proud of each one of you . Your hard work and repetitiveness is paying off! Our season is winding down but if we go all out with no regrets we will give them boy's from the city something to remember Grey Bruce by! A special thanks to all the parents for being supportive and understanding after all this has been somewhat of a marriage between us all throughout the year ! I've had fun hope you all feel the same !
Article written by Corey Lina