Feb 08, 2015 | Steve | 906 views
Atom Kinucks - WOAA Play off Champions
The Canadian Tire sponsored Kincardine Atom Kinucks racked up another title as they claimed the WOAA play off championship, sending them toward the 'All Ontario' quarter finals. The season is already culminating to be something that these kids might never repeat for the remainder of their playing careers. As the Regional Silverstick Champions, the Regular Season Group 1 winners and WOAA Play off Champions, their record to-date is fairly reasonable!
Having already put the Saugeen Shores series behind them, the Kinucks would have to beat the Listowell Cyclones in a five game series, if they were to be crowned WOAA champions. If you take the time to read the engravings of the play off trophy, breaking a nine year hiatus for the Kinucks wasn't going to be easy, against a Listowell centre that has been so dominant for many years.
The start of the play offs didn't exactly bode too well, when a lethargic Kinucks were crushed 4-0 at the hands of the Cyclones.
Anyone who thought the Kinucks had met their match were going to be sadly mistaken, when they bounced back with a convincing 4-1 win at home, tying up the series.
The Cyclones are certainly a talented and well coached team and they proved this to be the case in game three, when they left the Davison Centre with a 2-2 tie after overtime. This series was proving to be a thriller, as each team was tied with three points!
An away game 4 in Listowell was going to be crucial if the Kinucks had any hopes of continuing. Fortunately for the followers of Kincardine, the Kinucks would come out flying. Sam 'McSorley' MacTavish would blast the Kinucks into an early lead, as he took a wrist shot over the goalies left shoulder. Cody McLelland would be next up on the scoresheet, putting the Kinucks into an early 2-0 lead, with both assists going to the talented Quinton Page.
The Kinucks had the afterburners on for this game, as the Cyclones simply couldn't cope with a hard forechecking and accurate passing Kincardine team. The Kinucks would run out with a 6-1 win, with the remaining goals going to the prolific marksman Noah Swann (2), Quinton Page and Carson 'Teddy' Fletcher. The other players chipping in with assists would be Sam 'McSorley' MacTavish, who also seems to be making a surprising late run to be a penalty minute leader, and Cam Fletcher. Fletcher too, has seemed to have made a return to the penalty box, as the Kinucks 'pest' appears to have rediscovered a little bit of edge to his game!
A home crowd at the Davison Centre would see the Atom Kinucks crowned WOAA play off champions, with a 4-2 victory. At the end of a thrilling series Kincardine would claim it, thanks to goals from Noah Swann (2+1), Cody McLelland and Quinton Page. The remaining assists going to Holden Stevenson and Cam Fletcher.
The nine year exile from play off victory was over, thanks to a talented bunch of kids. All of them should be proud of their efforts. I continually talk about the superb goalie Ryan Tanner and the brilliant defensive core of Stevenson, Page, Beisel and Houghton, whom I genuinely can't separate since all of them have been simply outstanding in the absence of Nate Arnold. Hopefully, Arnold will return fit and healthy, in the not too distant future. The same can be said of Alex Colley Aquino who was able to play in the final play off game, but had to drag himself from his sick bed, to contribute his part for the team!