The Atom Jr. Stars started the holiday weekend on the road in Kitchener facing the Jr. Rangers on Friday night. Two day later saw the Stars heading west, into Sarnia, for a mid afternoon matchup against the Jr. Sting. The Stars fought for victory but unfortunately, a few relaxed shifts in each game made all the difference as we ended the weekend with only a single point.
Kitchener opened the scoring just over 3:00 into the 1st period and added another midway through the 2nd. Each goal resulted from a defensive breakdown by the Stars, leaving a Kitchener player alone to scoop up the loose puck and deposit it in the back of our net. Throughout the first two periods the Stars weren’t without their chances. Unfortunately, a solid Kitchener goalie was equal to each test with a quick glove hand. With only seconds remaining in the 2nd period, Chase Cookson’s slap shot found the top corner of Kitchener’s net, a shorthanded marker to put the Stars on the board. Kitchener regained their 2 goal lead just 0:51 into the 3rd making good on their power play that carried over from the 2nd. Kitchener added their fourth just before the 9:00 minute mark. Another loose puck the Stars were unable to clear from in front of our net. Brad Verhoeven added a power play goal for the Stars with just 0:24 remaining to make the final 4-2 for Kitchener. Despite the loss, Taylor Honsinger played a strong game in net making many key saves to keep his team in the game.
Assist to Brad Grignard.
In Sarnia, we found ourselves down a goal early in the 1st period again. Just 2:35 in, a Sarnia player, left alone in front of the Stars net, put the puck behind a defenseless Brett Chapman. Chapman battled back to turn away everything Sarnia sent his way, including a few high shots, for the rest of the period and all of the 2nd. Sarnia managed a second goal, less then 2 minutes into the 3rd and continued to pressure the Stars. Out skating, winning battles and out chancing the Stars throughout the first two and a half periods we slowly came to life late in the 3rd. Devon Kaplanis banged home his first of the season on a goal mouth scramble, sparking some energy into the bench. The Stars continued push and managed to fight off a late Sarnia power play. Miles Vaughan evened the score at 2 with his breakaway shot finding its way over the shoulder of the Sarnia goalie with less then 2:00 remaining. Unable to make it a complete comeback, the Stars were fortunate to gain the tie, finishing 2-2 and escape with a single point.
Assists to Vaughan, Chase Cookson(2)