It has been a very exciting and dramatic League Playoffs for
the Bantam B Hericanes so far. In their
first round of the play offs, they defeated the Oakville Hornets 1-0 and 4-0 to
win the best of 3 series. The girls
played very well and did not give a goal in the series. What a great way to start the Play Offs! Now on to round #2….
In Round 2, The Hericanes played the Walkerton Capitals in a crazy and heart pounding series. Walkerton, a very good team with a combination of aggressive fore checking and skilled forwards, they would for sure give the Hericanes a run for their money.
Game # 1, The series started in Walkerton and this game unfortunately did not go as planned. Walkerton scored an early goal which appeared to have shell shocked the girls. Walkerton scored another and then finally scored a third goal and it was a game the Hericanes would like to forget. It was the first time all year the team had lost a game by 3 goals and the girls and coaches would need to figure out what adjustments needed to be made in order to change things around. A loss in game 2 would eliminate the Hericanes. A tie or a win would force another game in Walkerton and that was the hope for the Game 2 result.
Game #2. - Things started off well for the Hericanes. With some line combination changes and more attention to detail in our own end, the Hericanes scored first and things were looking strong. But with Walkerton’s relentless fore checking, Walkerton scored a late goal and the game ended in a tie. With the tie, the Hericanes pushed the series to that elusive game #3. Hericanes now needed to win the next game out right. A tie or a loss would eliminate them. A win would then force a Sudden death overtime game right away following the game.
Game #3. – The Hericanes knew what was at stake, a must win situation. A tie or a loss and the Hericanes league playoff hopes would be done. A win was the only thing that could keep them alive to get to that over-time game. If no one scores in overtime, a shoot-out would determine the winner. The girls started off playing well and took the lead in the first. Walkerton tied it up and it was 1-1 after 2 periods. In the third, the Hericanes were able to score another and despite a 3 minute serge by Walkerton, the Hericanes held on for a 2-1 victory forcing that sudden death overtime game.
Sudden death Over-time game – With this unique situation, the Hericanes were on the brink of pulling off a great comeback. The 10 minute 4 on 4 overtime period was intense and both teams had chances to score but the goalies played well and no one scored. So now it came to the all exciting shootout. The team who can out score the other team with 3 shooters each will win!
In November, the Hericanes were successful in a shoot-out in the finals winning the Stratford Tournament. So going in to this shoot-out, there was a feeling of “We for sure can do this again”. With the notion “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it” the coaches opted to keep the same shooters in place that were successful in Stratford for this shoot out.
As the visitors, Hericanes shot first. Hericanes first shooter was Marlee Fraser, she came down the ice, faked a shot, went to her fore hand and put it up stairs and scored!!! The Hericanes right away put pressure on Walkerton. Next was Walkerton’s turn. Walkerton 1st shooter, came down the ice with speed, tried to cut across to her forehand but Hericane’s goalie Katie Lee was there to make the save and the pressure was even more on Walkerton now. Hericanes 2nd shooter was Mackenna Krulicki. Mackenna came down the ice, faked a shot, went to her back hand and slid it in the net!! If Walkerton does not score now, the Hericanes will win the series. Walkerton’s 2nd shooter came down the ice, took a hard shot but once again Hericane’s Goalie Katie was there to make the blocker save and it was official, the Hericanes came back to win the series. It was a total team effort by the girls. Each girl stepped up their game and worked extremely hard for each other. The coaches could not be more proud of their effort.
Next stop, the League Final series vs Chatsworth! Let’s get it done Hericanes and get to Lower Lakes Championship Weekend!!