Nov 13, 2011 | stottle | 473 views
Stars Settle for Tie Against Hawks
The St. Thomas Bantam Jr. Stars were forced to settle for a tie against the Cambridge Hawks on Saturday afternoon at the Timken Centre. The Stars played two solid periods of hockey and took a 2-0 lead into the third period against the second ranked team in the Alliance. However, the Hawks stormed back with two unanswered goals in the third period to put the finishing touches on the sister-kisser.
The Saturday afternoon contest featured two of the hottest teams in the Alliance league. Cambridge entered the contest against the Jr. Stars with only one defeat on the season, but the Stars had won ten of their last eleven games since donning their new jerseys.
The Stars started out strong and controlled much of the even strength play. Hawks goaltender Blair Wickett stoned Dylan Newman on at least two glorious scoring opportunities early in the the first period. T.J. Turley was exemplary in helping the Stars kill off a two minute 5-on-3 Hawks power play. Rogie was a decent penalty killer as well. The period ended as a scoreless draw.
Early in the second period, Jesse Tottle attempted to atone for his first period miscue when he was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for chirping the officials. From his new power play office behind the opposing net, Jesse's attempted centering pass banked in off Pierce Lawrence's skate and snuck between Wickett's wickets for a 1-0 Stars lead.
With less than four minutes remaining the second period, Jesse Tottle turned sideways with the puck just inside the Hawks blue line, becoming paper thin, and squeezed between a Hawks defender and the side boards. Skating in alone on Wickett, Jesse was able to find a small opening between his legs and slammed home a wrist shot to give the Stars a 2-0 lead heading into the third period. Dane Jacoletti earned an assist on the play.
Despite his protests and much to Rogie's dismay, the Hawks scored their second goal of the third period with just over two minutes remaining in the game to tie the game at 2-2. As fans have become accustomed with St. Thomas officiating, the Jr. Stars were assessed a phantom penalty with 1:26 remaining in the game. However it was the Stars that created most of scoring opportunities during the power play, including two in the final thirteen seconds of the game. Nonetheless, the buzzer sounded with a final score of 2-2.
Game Notes: Despite a sluggish start due to injuries and suspensions, the Stars were able to finish fourth in Alliance league play....Fourth place is tied for the lowest position the 1997 Jr. Stars have finished since joining the league in minor Atom.....it is also the sixth consecutive year that the team has finished among the top six teams and qualified for the AA second half of the schedule.....Alex Sanders made a game-changing stop on a 3-on-1 break in the second period..... Andrew Baxter has now served his three game suspension....Isaac Robinson has played with renewed passion in the last two games....not sure of his motivation for doing so, but I like it.....Pierce Lawrence continues to be the most improved player on the Stars.....the Stars next opponent is undetermined but until then....keep your stick on the ice and keep reaching for the Stars.