After more than one hundred and fifty minutes of defensive perfection to open the season, the PeeWee LL2 Kinucks finally surrendered a goal, but it wasn’t enough for a rugged South Bruce squad as Kincardine came away 4-2 winners last Thursday night.
The Kinucks came into this road game boasting a 3-0 record, seeing them tied atop the LL2 league standings with TCDMHA 2, while South Bruce had played only a single game, a 3-1 loss to our crosstown rivals, Kincardine LL1. Head coach Brian Saunders gave the starting nod to goalie Kody Collins, and enjoyed a full complement of three lines and two defensive pairs.
South Bruce immediately set a physical tone, taking the first of their seven minor penalties less than four minutes into the first. A second minor quickly followed, and the South Bruce strategy became clear; if they couldn’t out-hustle the Kinucks, they’d try to out-muscle them instead. Kincardine were unable to capitalize on these power play opportunities, but an even-strength Jacob Cuillerier howitzer from the point pushed the Kinucks to a 1-0 lead after the first period.
With a display of discipline beyond their years, the Kincardine skaters shrugged off the continued physical pressure, drawing penalties and using their man-advantage to keep the puck deep in the offensive zone and out of harm’s way. Both Dorian Saunders and Griffin Potter displayed deft touches in extending the lead to 3-0 after two periods of play, with Collins turning aside all comers, including a few dangerous-looking scrambles in the goalmouth.
Some determined work in front of the net early in the third saw Liam Fitzgerald go low-blocker on a rebound for his first of the year, and Kincardine looked firmly in control with a four-goal cushion. Determined not to lose to a second Kincardine club to open their season, South Bruce dug deep and forged their way back into this game with a late pair, but continued penalty trouble kept them from mounting a more serious challenge as time wound down. The final buzzer saw Kincardine the victors with a 4-2 win, extending the win streak to four to open the season.
South Bruce get an early opportunity to avenge this loss in the second half of this home-and-home series, kicking off at the Davidson Centre on Sunday morning, start time 10:30 am.
Final Score: Kincardine 4, South Bruce 2
Win: Kody Collins
Scoring: Cuillerier 1 (Petrie, McKay)
Saunders 1 (Potter)
Potter 2 (unassisted)
Fitzgerald 1 (Antle, Watson)
Written by: Travis Fitzgerald