Written by Barry Culmer
After a three week break following their semi-final sweep of Strathroy, the Kincardine Legion Peewee Kinucks opened up their OMHA Final series at home against the Wasaga Stars on Saturday 20 March. Eager for some hockey, the boys attacked from the start and built a two goal lead by mid period, both goals coming from unassisted slap shots by Garrett MacFadden. Kincardine dominated the early part of the game and went three up a minute into the second period when Scott McFarlan fired through the five hole unassisted. Towards the end of the period Wasaga began to get into the game with a couple of two on ones before Kincardine finished strongly including a waived off ‘goal’. The Kinucks eased off the gas in the third period and Wasaga took advantage having a ‘goal’ of their own waived off before pulling one back four minutes in to make it 3–1. The game really came alive in the second half of the period with Ethan Primeau making a couple of crucial saves and Kincardine stepping up their game with a couple of ‘how did that miss’ moments including Brett Burrows doing a Dougie Gilmour impression with play behind the net.
So with a first game win under their belts the boys headed to the Wasaga Stars Arena for game two on Sunday 20th March. In a nice touch, Wasaga introduced all the players and coaches one by one at the start, sang Oh Canada live and presented each of the Kinucks with a goody bag. The smaller ice surface and home atmosphere suited Wasaga Beach who played a much stronger game then in game one but the first goal went to Kincardine with Ethan Skinner scoring on a short handed play 52 seconds from the end of the first period assisted by Evan Brown. The Kincardine defence withstood a lot of Wasaga pressure in the second period but the Stars tied it up, Matthew Van Boven slicing through the Kinucks from his own blue line mid way through the period.
Period three was a barnstormer with chances at both ends of the ice before the Kinucks edged ahead five minutes from time on the power play, Ethan Skinner shooting home from Sam Culmer and Ethan Long. But less than a minute later they failed to clear the puck and Wasaga sent the home crowd into a frenzy with what proved to be the tying goal. Ten minutes of exciting overtime couldn’t separate the team so it’s back to the Davidson on Wednesday, 24 March for game three with Kincardine leading by three points to one. Be there!