Stop looking, They have been found., News, Atom, 2012-2013 (Grey-Bruce Highlanders AAA Minor Hockey Association)

This Team is part of the 2012-2013 season, which is not set as the current season.
News Article
News Article Image
Oct 10, 2012 | dblack | 1259 views
Stop looking, They have been found.
    For 5 games, the Chapman's Ice Cream Major Atoms were missing. They were last seen in the Peterborough Tournament skating hard, passing exceptionally well, forechecking, back checking, controlling the boards and generally dominating games.

    Then the regular season started and the Peterborough Team was nowhere to be found. They proceeded to drop their 1st five games as they struggled to bring all the above aspects to the rink. Valuable lessons were learned during these 5 games as the Team realized that everyone has to bring it each and every game. 

    On Saturday, the Bulldogs arrived in Flesherton for a rematch, they had won against the Highlanders 2 weeks prior by a convincing 6-1 score. By the second shift, you could tell the Highlanders were pumped. THIS was the team we witnessed in Peterborough. They were skating and checking hard and seemed to have Hamilton confused for large stretches at a time. Even though the shots were close, it seemed the Highlanders had many excellent scoring chances. Goldie (Owen Sound) and Naves (Bruce Peninsula) would each score once to give the Highlanders a 2-0 lead as we headed for the third. In the third, Hamilton came out flying and around the ten minute mark, they scored two goals 15 seconds apart to tie the game at 2. The Highlanders would not quit and continued to press around the Bulldog net. It appeared, the Highlanders had regained the lead as approximately 9 players filled the crease fighting for a loose puck. The ref allowed this to continue for 15-20 seconds before finally whistling the play dead. As the players untangled themselves everyone watched intently wondering where or who had the puck. It finally appeared underneath a Bulldog laying deep in the net. It is still a mystery to this writer why it wasn't registered a goal but sometimes their is no explanation. Minutes later,the Bulldogs would take the lead themselves on an excellent save by Prues (Hanover). Thomas Lenart would streak down the right side and unleash a canonizing wrist shot that was saved by Prues. Just as he covered the puck with his glove, Lenart had followed his shot and proceeded to jab Prues and the puck into the net and give the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead with 3:21 to play. The Highlanders poured it on the rest of the way coming very close on a couple of occasions. As the clock wound down the Highlanders pulled Prues from the net. With the extra attacker, the Highlanders were buzzing all around the Bulldog net and with 2 seconds left were able to generate an excellent shot from the slot. However, the Bulldog goalie was equal to the task and made a remarkable pad save and deflect the puck wide of the net. This one would end 3-2 Hamilton. 

    On Sunday,it was back in Flesherton. This time a rematch against the Storm who had beaten the Highlanders 4-3 on Sept. 29th. The game started much like the Hamilton game with the Highlanders showing tremendous jump and aggressiveness. The teams traded goals in each of the first two periods to round out the scoring. Again, it appeared the Highlanders would score the go-ahead goal on a delayed penalty call to the Storm. The Highlanders were passing very aggressively in the Storm end and a perfect pass to the slot ended up in the Storm net. However, with the hockey at this caliber and only two officials, it is asking a lot for them to see everything all the time. For the fourth time this season, the Highlanders had a goal waved off. The Highlanders managed to fight through the adversity and skated stride for stride with Guelph throughout the remainder of the game and this one would end 2-2. 

    Despite only getting a single point on he weekend, the team played extremely well. They were competing on every shift and very aggressive at both ends of the ice. I believe this team now realizes the style they need to play to compete. The good thing is they get Oakville next who has out scored their opponents 31-0 in their first 4 games. This will be a great test for this Highlander team. It will be interesting to see if the Highlanders are able to contain this strong team.
Sponsors
Chapman's Ice Cream
Chapman's Ice Cream is the largest Independent Ice Cream Manufacturer in Canada located in Markdale, Ontario.