Minor PeeWee Jr. Stars off to the OMHA Quarter Finals
The St. Thomas Optimist Minor PeeWee Jr. Stars are through to the OMHA Playdown Quarter Finals after sweeping the Amherstburg Stars in their Preliminary Round 2 Series. After a humbling meeting with the Amherstburg team earlier in the season the Minor PeeWee have found their stride and are playing their best team hockey of the season. The Minor PeeWee Jr. Stars will face the Grimsby Peach Kings in the OMHA Quarter Finals which begin this Friday night in Grimsby. Read on for a game by game summary.
The St. Thomas Optimist Minor PeeWee Jr. Stars travelled to Amherstburg on Saturday Jan 30th to begin their OMHA Preliminary Round 2 series. After a scoreless first period the Amherstburg Stars drew first blood in the second period when John Purdie and Tyler Mallen set up Jake Topliffe to get one by St. Thomas goalie Curtis Gremonprez. Not enjoying being behind, the Jr. Stars kept up their team defense and high energy offense and were rewarded when Aaron Hiddink and Sam Carmichael set up Jake Rick to tie the game. Amherstburg again took the lead with 3 ½ minutes left in the second period when Cameron Aucoin found the twine from Dillon Hayes and Jack Hubbell. The Amherstburg fans were still clapping and cheering when Dawson Cook received the centre ice face off win from Jonathan Rive and hit Zach Langley with a stretch pass that was floated over to Rive to tie the score at 2. With 2:23 left on the clock in the second period Jake Rick found Aaron Hiddink on the left face off circle and he made no mistake snapping a wrist shot past the Amherstburg goalie’s glove side for the 3-2 lead. The third period although eventful for the operator’s of the penalty box doors did not produce any more offense. The Minor PeeWee Jr. Stars played patient five man defense and goalie Curtis Gremonprez shut the door the rest of the way to preserve the lead and take the first two points of the series.
After their thrilling victory on Saturday the Jr. Stars were back in Amherstburg on Sunday ready for another fast paced battle. They wasted little time getting on the board as Zach Langley finished off a nice pass from Aidan Barry 1:49 into the first period. The Jr. Stars continued to play inspired hockey frustrating the Amherstburg team at both ends of the ice and were rewarded with 4:45 left in the second period when Aaron Hiddink buried a Sam Carmichael rebound to increase the lead to two goals. The fast paced physical contest continued to play out at both ends of the ice with Amherstburg’s frustration becoming visible and audible. St. Thomas’ team work was once again rewarded with 7:39 left in the third period when Jake Rick and Sam Carmichael set up Aaron Hiddink for his second of the game to seal the deal. Justin McDonald closed the door for the shut out and St. Thomas drove home with 4 road points to prepare for game three and a desparate Amherstburg team the following Friday night.
Up 4 points to 0 and coming home the Minor PeeWees hosted the Amherstburg Stars on Friday Feb 5th. With it all on the line the Amherstburg team played some of their most inspired hockey of the series during the opening frame, only to be shut down by St. Thomas goalie Curtis Gremonprez and solid team defense. The scoreless battle raged until four minutes into the second period when Dawson Cook and Jonathan Rive set up Aidan Barry who made no mistake to give the Minor PeeWee Jr. Stars the lead with a quick wrist shot that found nothing but twine. With both teams giving and taking everything they both had left, the fast paced game did not see any more scoring until a blocked shot resulted in a breakaway for Sam Carmichael, who decided to heed Coach Cook’s advice to deke which produced an open net and a 2-0 lead with 11:55 left in the game. The Jr. Stars sealed the deal by continuing to frustrate the Amherstburg Stars with their team defense led by Brody Bell, Dawson Cook, Austin "Ice man" McIntee and Preston Hathaway. Owning the blue ice, Curtis Gremonprez earned the shutout – the second in as many games for the Jr. Stars goalie tandem.
After the traditional handshake and best wishes from both teams, the Minor PeeWee Jr. Stars were off to celebrate their entry into the OMHA Playdowns Quarter Finals.
The Minor PeeWees will meet the Grimsby Peach Kings in the OMHA Playdown Quarter Finals. The series begins 7:00 pm Friday night in Grimsby at The Peach King Centre.
Go Stars Go!