Presto Crest Peewee AE Begin Playoff vs Saugeen Shores The Presto Crest Peewee Boys AE team kicked off their “first to four points” playoff series against the Saugeen Shores Storm at home Thursday night. The previous regular season games between these two teams were all fast paced, spirited affairs and this game followed the same pattern. The first period saw end-to-end action and scoring chances for both sides but the goalies prevailed with the period ending scoreless. The Kinucks game plan to get pucks and bodies to the opponents net paid off early in the second, with Brett Colhoun pouncing on a loose puck and firing it into an open net. Assists on Kincardine’s first goal went to Grant Stevens and Jakob Dunlop. Kincardine upped their lead to two midway through the second on a point shot from Ben Netzke, with assists again going to Stevens and Dunlop. Both teams got into penalty trouble in the second, with the Storm capitalizing on a power play to draw to within one goal. Saugeen Shores tied it up late in the third period to send the game into overtime. Kinuck goalie Jordon Gauthier was the star of the extra period, making a number of game saving stops. Neither team was able to score in OT, ending the game in a 2-2 tie.
Game 2 in Port Elgin the following night picked up right where the first game ended. The Kinucks came out strong and dominated play early opening the scoring on a bullet wrist shot over the goalies shoulder by Andrew Leschied on a set-up from Andrew Potter. The Storm tied up the game late in the first. After a scoreless second period, Kincardine pushed hard for the go ahead goal in the third. After a flurry of scoring chances, Braeden Morgan slammed home a rebound to put Kincardine ahead with Kaleb Brough and Leschied recording assists on the eventual game winner. The defensive pairing of Alex Knowles and Brendan Murchie kept the Storms shooters away from the net with Gauthier shutting the door on another Storm comeback. The win put Kincardine up 3 points to 1.
Looking to close out the series, Kincardine faced a desperate team Sunday evening. Saugeen Shores scored two early goals in the first. Kincardine outshot and outplayed the Storm but couldn’t catch a break with a number of shots ringing off the post and cross bar. Saugeen Shores took advantage of their chances and fought to a 5-0 win to send the series to a winner-take-all final game this Wednesday.