Article Submitted by Barry Culmer
White knuckle rides to and from Hensall on a stormy Saturday 15 January book-ended an entertaining 3-3 tie between the Bantam Rep Kinucks and the BCH Ice Dogs.
The Kinucks were looking for a challenging exhibition game to keep them in game shape during their two week first round bye in the WOAA playoffs and they certainly got that from the Ice Dogs who were near the top of the standings in their own Group.
A fast and furious first period saw BCH grab the lead mid-way through on a breakaway with the Kincardine defence pinching. Play was end to end, but with Kincardine adjusting their forward lines with two players absent, the Dogs went into the second with the advantage. BCH created a lot of opportunities in the second, including another two breakaways, but goaltender Kevin Chau stood on his head with some outstanding saves to keep his team in the game. The Kinucks took advantage and struck three goals to take a 3-1 lead. First Brody Hayes scored with a deflected shot on 10 minutes from Payton Dunlop and Sam Wilson. Derrick Bernath fed Scott McFarlan for a nice second after seven minutes and Austin Rees netted the third from Sam Culmer and Evan Brown following good work around the BCH net.
BCH attacked the Kincardine net hard at the start of the third and were rewarded with a second goal under two minutes in, again from a two on one. The score remained at 3-2, with chances at both ends of the rink, until BCH grabbed the equaliser on a turnover at 2.23 after pinning Kincardine in their own end. It may have been an exhibition but it was an exciting game for the spectators and just the work out the boys needed as they prepare for the playoffs.