Hello Out There, We're on the Air, IT'S PLAYOFF TIME TONIGHT!, News, Major Atom "AE", 2013-2014 (Whitchurch Stouffville Minor Hockey Association)

This Team is part of the 2013-2014 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Jan 27, 2014 | NathanT | 659 views
Hello Out There, We're on the Air, IT'S PLAYOFF TIME TONIGHT!
Ok, maybe not tonight... But last night, and in the weeks ahead...

Our Atom AE Clippers can be proud of a strong finish in the regular season, landing 5th overall with 36 points, from 16 wins, 4 ties and 10 very close (some shoulda had 'em)losses, except against top placed TNT who took away an incredible 56 points and suffered only a single loss all season.  Aurora was also a power house this season, with a close 52 points, 25 wins and only 3 losses...

With this in mind, we can be very proud of the Clippers for competing hard against Aurora, losing by only 1 goal in the two match ups, and otherwise winning against every other team in the league.  Consistency was perhaps our nemesis, but not to be unexpected as we have fielded and formed a very new team, with over 50% turnover since last season.

Against this back drop, we have now entered into a round robin with AE1 centres - and in our group, this is limited to TNT and Georgina.  We have 4 scheduled round robin games, and the winner of these games will move on to the quarter finals for the OMHA. 

It might seem obvious, TNT being the power house that they have been all season, as with last season, TNT is surely the odds on favourite to move forward.  That's why our excellent compete level in game one on Sunday was something to revel in through 35 minutes of play. 

The Clippers scored first on a surprise break away short handed goal.  TNT came back in the first, but the scoreboard remained 1-1 through to the final minute of the second period, when TNT literally jammed in a goal tight to the post on Adrian.  Unfussed, our Clippers re-doubled their efforts through the third, and kept moving in on the TNT defense, making the TNT netminder earn his keep.  With many close calls at both ends, our boys in black had no puck-luck on the rebounds and pucks that sailed to centre, so the score held to 2-1... 

In a standard 10-10-15 minute game, that would have been all she wrote.  But on this day, we had the benefit of an extra 5 minutes... an extra five minutes to tie the game, and pull ahead.  Unfortunately, the extra five minutes was also available to TNT.  TNT took advantage of a loose puck on their own PK, and rushed from the offensive zone to make retribution for the Clippers' shorthanded point.  The speedy forward was chased down by Geiger (16), and held wide right to the boards... with both D back (Tratnik & Geiger), the puck battle ensued, and the attempt to clear was eaten by a 2nd sharp shooter who raced in to the slot and made good on a bullet to the top corner.  TNT didn't waste much time celebrating, and with still just over 4 minutes of play to go, exhilirated by the 3rd goal, they picked up their game, and in the next shift added one more at 3:34 of the third.

While the scoreboard showed the Clippers defeated by 4-1, in truth there was a lot to learn from this game.  The teams played a tight well matched play throughout with the difference in the end being that TNT demonstrated the competitive drive in the final countdown. 

We will see TNT one more time in 2 weeks to complete the round robin contract with them.  We also will be facing Georgina for 2 upcoming games.  Please check the website for details on times and locations of games.

GO CLIPPERS GO!!!

Coaches would ask and remind everyone to please be at the games 1 hour ahead of game time, with all equipment good to go  (including sharpened skates please!)