Miller Midgets WOAA Champs
Facing the same Listowell team that had handed them two losses during the regular season and won the Silver Stick tournament, the Miller midgets were well aware of the challenge ahead in trying to dethrone the defending WOAA champs.
Game one opened with several hard hits and few scoring chances as each team settled into a defensive mode waiting to pounce on any mistake made by the other team. Patience and hard work paid off for the Miller squad as Mathew Osadca found an open Chris Beattie on the boards who fed a touch pass to a streaking Jacob Siekierski who blew past the Listowell defense and snapped a rocket upstairs on a stunned Listowell net minder.Kincardine gained some confidence and got a two goal cushion when Karsen Ellis found a loose puck at the goal crease after a mad scramble , assists going to Dallas Perkins and Cody Bowes. Listowell capitalized on some defensive lapses to tie the score late in the third which forced the overtime period. Listowell had several chances only to have Keegan Woodmen shut the door and frustrate the shooters. It wasn’t until Chris Beattie slammed home a loose puck from the point shot of Alex Legrand that Kincardine was able to celebrate the victory and plant the seed of doubt in the minds of the defending champions.
Game two on home ice was a continuation of the first game with crushing hits and few chances as the defensive team of Mathew Osadca, Sam Gurbin, Dallas Perkins, Brad Mangotich and Josh “The Cheese” MacDonald frustrated the Listowell forwards with blocked shots and intercepted passes. Chris Beattie opened the scoring with his now traditional crash the net style of play allowing him to bang in a goal mouth gift with assists going to Jacob Siekierski and Alex Legrand. Listowell replied in the second resulting in a tied score going into the third. A slow start in the third gave the Meteors several chances only to have Easton Battler come up big and save the day on more than one occasion. Dylan Sayle picked up the game winner late in the third with a high snapper, assists going to Phil Bernath and Brad Mangotich.
With a new found confidence and swagger the Miller Midgets entered game three knowing they had the capability to not only play with the defending champs but a series sweep was possible. The game opened with a take no prisoner approach as every touch of the puck was paid for by taking a hit from the opposition. Dylan Sayle opened the scoring banging in a juicy rebound off the shot from line mate Phil Bernath. Listowell replied to tie the score in the second during a power play. The score remained tied until Bernath found a loose puck at the side door and made no mistake, Dylan Sayle and Kerson Ellis picked up the helpers after some hard work on the boards to get the puck to the net. Alex Legrand got the insurance goal early in the third with a quick low shot that froze the Listowell net minder, Siekierski and Jory Norman picked up the assists, thus completing the sweep. Special consideration goes out to Mitch Dickson, Gerrit Satosek, and Josh Gauthier who worked extremely hard every shift and made a huge contribution to the victory.
The Miller midgets now advance to the all Ontario Semi Finals and wait for the winners of the Lambeth , Blenheim series .Come out and cheer on the boys as they make their way to the All Ontario Championship, you can watch the KMHA web page for game dates and times. (February 17, 2010)
Ron Sayle
