Kincardine Atom LL1 MTC Kinucks vs. Brussels
The MTC Computer Atom LL1 Kinucks
travelled to Brussels
on Feb. 7 to take on the Crusaders and start their build up towards the playoffs.
After the play initially went end to end in the opening minutes Kaleb Roth pounced on a Kincardine clearing attempt and moved from the boards to the front of the goal and snap one into the corner to get Brussels on the board early. Brussels kept the pressure on but Kincardine defended strongly led by Kaiden Ford and Bryan Nicholson breaking up some threatening plays. Just after Kincardine finally worked the puck down to the Brussels zone Kyle Stevenson got loose and went in alone on Nathan Desmond in the Kincardine goal and put a hard shot in the top corner. The Kinucks responded with some offensive pressure of their own. After Thomas Ostrowski blocked a clearing attempt, the loose puck was picked up by Charlie Hall Elwood who took it to the front of the goal but misfired on his wrist shot. But the goalie was fooled and the puck slid in for Kincardine’s first. Right off the following faceoff Kaleb Roth brought the puck in and split the MTC defence and put one in the bottom corner to close out the first period with Brussels leading 3-1.
Brussels put on early pressure at the start of the 2nd frame with Nathan weathering the storm in the Kinuck goal making several good stops. His luck ran out however when the puck came in front from a faceoff and bounced past him off an unsuspecting Kincardine defender. The teams continued to move the puck well going end to end in both directions Kaleb Roth was able to make it 5-1 when he scored on the 2nd of two back to back breakaways. Kincardine began to apply some pressure and a nice 3 way passing play from Owen Kirk to Charlie Hall Elwood to Bryan Nicholson forced a big glove save from Joel Nesbit in the Brussels goal. Brussels began to turn things back the other way until Brady Graf stopped a clearing attempt and fed Griffin Marshall who turned and fired high to make the period ending score 6-1 in favour of Brussels.
The 3rd period was an offensive explosion of 11 goals. While the Kinucks were on the short end of the explosion, they were not noticeably outplayed. They were more outdone by the number of strong shooters on the Brussels side who made more of their chances than Kincardine did on theirs. Kincardine did get 3 of their own in the 3rd from a combination of hard work and good passing. Kincardine goals came from Liam Hunter, Adam Nasime and Bryan Nicholson with assists to Liam, Charlie Hall Elwood and Mitchell Hackett. The defence also had their moments, breaking up several promising Brussels attacks and are improving their positional play every game. In spite of the 14-4 final score Nathan Desmond continues to improve in the Kincardine goal. Most of the goals were into corners and he kept his rebounds under control. Hopefully the improvement continues as the playoffs begin this week.