Mar 28, 2010 | stottle | 2449 views
PeeWee Stars Save Their Best for Last
The PeeWee Stars played their best hockey of the season as they won both games this past weekend to win the Alliance "AA" Constellation Playoff Championship. Facing season-ending elimination in both games, the Stars demonstrated their determination, poise and new-found maturity to complete the comeback against a persistent London Jr. Knights team.
On Saturday afternoon at the Timken Centre, coming off a heart-breaking overtime loss on Thursday nights and already behind four points to two in the best of six point championship series, the Stars absolutely dominated the first two minutes of the game. The puck rarely left the Knights end zone as the Stars generated numerous great scoring opportunities.
Jesse Tottle opened the scoring for the Stars within the first two minutes of play. Andrew Baxter fed Tottle with a pass to create a two on one break inside the Knights zone. Faking a return pass to Andrew, Jesse used the London defender as a screen and slid a beautiful shot along the ice between the defenceman's skates and just inside the post on the short side (apparently the Knights' goaltenders do not read the send-off line from my previous articles) to give the Stars the start they were hoping for.
The Stars controlled much of the remaining first period, mostly because they played at even strength throughout, which ended with the home team ahead 1-0.
The second period saw an unfortunate return to form for the Stars as they played shorthanded for eleven minutes of the fifteen minute period, some penalties being deserved, some not so much. Once again, credit has to be given to the Stars defencemen, as well as their designated penalty killers T.J. Turley, Josh Reda and Pierce Lawrence, for allowing the Stars to maintain their 1-0 lead heading into the third period.
Rogie Tottle also receives credit for a highlight reel and momentum saving stop as he slid across and gloved what would otherwise have been an empty net power play goal midway through the second period. However, Rogie's post-save theatrics put a damper on what would have otherwise been a glorious Stars' moment.
The third period started poorly for the Stars. Kyle Roden of the Knights picked up a loose-puck rebound at 13:48 of the period to tie the game at 1-1. Only five minutes later, Jacob Watkins beat two Stars' defenders out of the corner and roofed a beautiful wrist shot, high to the short side, to give the Knights a 2-1 lead with only six minutes remaining.
With their season in the balance, the Stars responded with three goals within a five minute span. Zack Smith sensed a scoring opportunity and moved in from his power play spot along the half-boards. Finding a loose puck, he shelved a rebound on the second of only two Stars' power play opportunities in the game to tie the game at 2-2. Jesse Tottle and Andrew Baxter earned assists on the play.
Less than a minute later, Josh Reda picked up a loose puck inside the Knights' zone off of a Dane Jacoletti rush and executed a perfect "Savardian" spin-o-rama in front of the London tender to give the Stars a 3-2 lead. Reda gave the Stars some breathing room when he picked up a Jesse Tottle rebound and deposited the puck behind Knights goaltender Davis King with just under two minutes remaining to make the final score 4-2.
The Tottle brothers were both deserving of a fedora on Saturday afternoon as was Matty Thomson, who maintained his level of excellence as well as his composure throughout the Saturday game despite several opportunities to take retaliatory penalties. Hopefully a lesson learned by all teammates which will carry over to next season.
On Sunday evening at Medway Arena for the fifth and likely deciding game, you could literally cut the tension with a knife in the St. Thomas dressing room. Much of the players' pre-game discussion revolved around the previous evening's 13th birthday party of a popular St. Thomas girl. The remaining discussion involved video games and a topic of conversation which is not properly identifiable in this forum. Yet somehow the Stars were able to focus their energy and dominate the entire deciding game from the drop of the puck until the distribution of gold medals, despite 28 minutes in penalties.
Zach Smith, who's play has improved dramatically during the course of this season under the tutelage of coach Corey Stuart, and playing perhaps the best game of his career, opened the scoring for the Stars during the second shift of the game as his point shot banked in off a Knights player. T. J Turley earned the lone assist on the play.
In the final minute of the first period, Josh Mallory found himself alone at the side of the Knights net on a Stars; power play as a pass deflected off the stick of Derek Smith directly to Mallory to give the Stars a 2-0 lead heading into the second period.
The Stars made it 3-0 in the first minute of the second period when Zach Smith moved in from the point and let go a high wrist shot that bounced out of Knight's goaltender, Jeremy Noonan's glove, and into the net for Zach's second goal of the game to give the Stars a 3-0 lead. The Knights elected to change goalies after the play.
The Knights briefly made a game of it as they scored a power play goal midway through the second period to narrow the score to 3-1. However, exactly two minutes later, Josh Mallory drove to the net and picked up a loose puck in front of the London goaltender off of a superb Jesse Tottle rush for his second goal of the game to return a three goal lead to the Stars. Alex Sanders, who played another strong, intelligent game for the Stars, earned the second assist on the play.
Josh Reda, playing with courageous determination and despite a wrist injury which prevented him from gripping the stick with his usual strength, outmuscled a Knights defender for a loose puck in front the net to give the Stars a 5-1 lead heading into the third period. The second period was highlighted by a breakaway save by Brennan Agius that had the potential to turn the momentum in favour of the Knights.
While on a power play, the Stars increased their lead to 6-1 in the first minute of the final stanza as Andrew Baxter made up for an otherwise terrible Star's power play, with another one of his potent wrap-around goals from behind the Knights net. Jesse Tottle and Derek Smith were awarded helpers on the play.
The Knights managed one more goal on a meaningless but short-handed break-away opportunity with just over six minutes remaining. Despite the Knights' post-goal celebrations, the final outcome had long been decided. A 6-2 final score for the Stars was probably more flattering to the home team than ultimately deserved. Non-alcoholic champagne, courtesy of Mrs. Tottle, was enjoyed by all players during the post-game dressing room festivities.
The entire defensive crew for the Stars were outstanding during both weekend games. Dane Jacoletti was his usual gladiator self, out-working almost every Knight's player in puck battles and bravely blocking numerous shots with every part of his body. Matty Thomson displayed his extremely rare combination of skill, leadership abilities and composure; Zack Smith demonstrated his superior decision making skills with the puck as well as deft hands. Alex Sanders continued to play a suffocating defensive game with his persistent positional play.
Rogie Tottle was solid in the Stars' net on Saturday, and Brennan Agius proved once again that he is a "money" goaltender for the Stars on Sunday evening in the hostile confines of Medway Arena.
This will be my last entry for the 2009-2010 season. I must candidly admit that I had very little in the way of expectations for this season. The team's future was clouded with uncertainty from the loss of their best offensive player, Michael McArthur to "AAA" Middlesex Chiefs. But from the commencement of our season, the coaching staff sensed that they could create a team of players that would result in a hockey product greater than the sum of its parts. A group of players that could exceed the expectations of most hockey experts.
The PeeWee Stars' players exceeded all early season expectations, and despite the admitted mid-season slump, were able to continue to improve their play to the point where they dominated their "AA" playoff opponents.
All players, especially the new additions, should be commended for picking up the slack due to the absence of Michael McArthur. Nonetheless, as it is now a distinct possibility that Michael will return to the Stars next season, expectations will be even higher. Even in the unlikely event that he does not return, there has been significant improvement from a number of Stars' players which, from this writer's perspective, warrants every reason to be even more optimistic for next season.
It was unfortunate that the Stars' experienced a drop in the quality of their play at the same time as the OMHA Playdowns began. There may be are a number of reasons for that outcome, all of which the coaching staff wiil accept full responsibility. The loss to Riverside was frustrating for the players and, on their word, will not happen again. However, credit must be given to the Stars' players to come back from that disappointment and play with the enthusiasm and pride necessary to win the "AA" Constellation Playoff Championship.
A special thanks goes out to the parents and grandparents that have followed this team personally at the various arenas as well as on-line at this web-site. The views and commentary of their fans are not lost on the players and go a long way to developing a positive team environment, which I believe to be our best asset when playing against the stronger centers such as London.
This is my last entry for the season. it has been a pleasure to write these commentaries on behalf of our children and grandchildren. I hope everyone has enjoyed my commentary, at least to some extent. I have done my best to enhance your child/grandchild's hockey experience. It is the least that I owe to my players for their devotion to this team. I would appreciate any feedback you wish to provide as it has always been my goal to provide the best possible hockey experience for my players.
If anyone wishes my commentary on their child's play or development, I would be most willing to do so on a confidential basis. Until next season...keep your stick on the ice, cover the short side and don't get deked.