Mar 06, 2012 | phauck | 1333 views
Playoff Payback
The Walkerton Collision Capitals only had only one thing on their minds coming into playoffs, "payback".
After being defeated only once in the regular season by the undefeated Hanover Falcons. Starting playoffs, the Collision Caps' had redemption on their minds. With both teams in the same pool and both sides anticipating a lengthy playoff run, each team knew that the most pressing matter was the other squad.
With the Caps' chance coming in the form of their first playoff game at home versus the bitter rival Falcons. The anticipation leading up to the first game was almost unbearable. Poised for their "playoff payback" and playing at home, the boys came ready for what would be a battle for the ages.
Straight out of the gates saw both teams grinding it out at full clip. With hard battles being fought at both ends, early into the 1st the Caps' found themselves in penalty trouble. With the Falcons pressing hard for the first marker of the game, the Caps' smothering defensive play of Austin "Ozzy" Hogg, Michael "Fort Knox" Fortney, Daylan "Crazy Legs" Hopcraft and Steven "Steve-O" Ottewell kept them at bay. While rock solid net minding from goaltender Chase "Hulkster" Hauck and a huge glove save on a "red bucket" stifled Hanover's power play hopes and got the boys back to full strength.
The Caps' now started to really pour it on. The grinding for check of wingers Eddy "Big Ed" Mckee and Clint "The Flint" Holiday, coupled with unrelenting puck pressure from Ryan "Ry Guy" Lair and Andrew "Danglez" Young was proving to be too much for the visiting Falcons. Now in penalty trouble of their own, the Falcons got penned in their zone. Deep in the zone on a great dig from (the green bucket) Willy "Wheels" Schmidt, a sweet pass out front found the awaiting stick of (the big man) "Li'l Nate" Illerbrunn who smashed home the first of the game. An enormous roar came from the crowd that could have been heard all the way in Hanover.
With the 1st period all but forgotten, the Caps' came storming out of the gates in the 2nd. Only a minute and a half in Jayden "JD" Dietz hit d-man "Ozzy" who unleashed a bomb that found the back of the net for the 2-0 lead and another tremendous roar from the bench and the stands! With the battle raging on and pressure at both ends, both tenders were tested. Halfway through the period a heavily guarded "red bucket" slipped through the defense and scrambled one past a pile to make it 2-1. Without hesitation off the ensuing face off, Coleman "Cole" Meyer blast his way past all defenders to snipe his first of the match. Giving the Caps' the 3-1 lead and the fans another chance to unleash! Great end to end action continued as both teams battled until late in the frame when a "red bucket" slipped another one by cutting the deficit to one.
The 3rd period was to be of epic proportions. With a quick pep talk from the coach the Caps' set out with something to prove. Starting out where they left off, Walkerton kept the pedal down. On a a chip play from "Danglez", D-man "Fort Knox" flew down the side boards and ripped one past the Falcons keeper to regain the 2 goal margin. The pressure put forth by the whole Caps' team late in the game seemed to frustrate the Falcons and land them in penalty trouble yet again. With one last push on the power play Li'l Nate found center cole out front for the finishing touch on a 5 - 2 victory! And what a sweeeeeet victory it was. Way to go boys beauty game! I can still hear the bell!!!!!!!!
This story simply put does nothing to justify what a GREAT game of hockey this was to see and be part of. My words can't describe the excitement and the atmosphere that was felt by all in attendance. Great job everyone!!!! And way to go Walkerton! WOOOOOOOOOOOO
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