Feb 08, 2011 | NathanT | 876 views
Play-off Run Ends Early for Peewee A Clippers
Clippers couldn't find the right stuff to pull Newmarket Redmen back to Stouffville for a game 4 home game. The series ended on Monday, February 7th with a 3-2 regulation loss at Magna Centre, following the same score over-time loss on Saturday, February 5th at the Clipper Complex.
The Clippers played some great hockey over this series, but in the end, the Redmen earned the right to move on to the next round of the York-Simcoe play-offs taking a surprising three straight games from our Clippers.
The Clippers had the Redmen on the ropes through the first period, keeping puck possession in the Redmen end, but closing the period at 0-0. The Clippers finally scored at 10:52 of the second with some determined work by #8 (Dunlop) and #16 (AP Vasconcelos) to deliver the puck to striker Gunathunge (#17) at the front of the net, giving the Clippers their only lead in the game. The Redmen came back stronger through the next half of the game, and managed 2 quick goals at 6:14 and 4:32 of the second, leaving the Clippers behind by one going into the third. The winning goal came at 12:02 of the third for the Redmen. The Redmen needed that insurance goal, as the Clippers had a power play awarded in the final 3 minutes and rallied with a goal at 1:57 (goal scored by Vasconcelos #16 from Tratnik #7).
The clock was merciless, though, and counted down the final two minutes giving the Newmarket Redmen a 3-2 victory.
It was an emotional end to the season, with 4 of the core squad missing from action. Rendall still itching from his temporary cast, and Carrick, Rodgers and Coach Ryan side-lined from the game following suspensions handed out from our home town refs in game #2 of the series.
February 7th won't be the 'end' for the 2010-2011 PWA Clippers. The team has plans to go on to a tournament in Chicago in early March, and will look to fill the dance card with some competition to stay in game shape leading up to the tournament and try-outs for next year.
On behalf of the team and the coaching staff, thanks to everyone for cheering on and encouraging the team throughout the season! It has been a year of change, a year of learning and growth. We'll need all that and more as we face more challenges next season.