Game 15 vs. South Bruce Blades
Just a few days prior to Christmas the Walkerton Capitals
would play host to the visiting South Bruce Blades. Walkerton would again find itself three players short so line
juggling would be in order for the December 23rd, 2017 game.
The game would start off at a slower than usual pace as both teams played a conservative style game, neither team wanted to give the other any scoring opportunities. The Blades would open the scoring with just over 3 minutes remaining in the first period to take a 1-0 lead. Walkerton would respond quickly when Cayleb Peitz would come up the wing and cut to the front of the net before beating the glove the South Bruce goalie. The first period would end with the teams in a 1-1 tie.
The second period and again it would be closely contested. The Capitals would score 3:05 into the period when goal-tender Ryan Hinsperger fired the puck up the boards to Cobi Johnson who then sent a pass to Tyler Wallace at the blue line who split the defence before sliding the puck past the Blades goalie. South Bruce would respond only 40 seconds later when a shot from the point bounced around before it was fired into the open corner of the net. The period would end in a 2-2 tie.
The third period would start with the Walkerton killing off the remainder of a penalty from late in the second period. As the penalty ended the Capitals would pressure and South Bruce would find themselves down 2 men for a full two minutes. The Blades would be able to kill off the penalty and then storm the Walkerton net but Walkerton’s Ryan Hinsperger was stellar in the blue paint. The game would continue back and forth as each team attempted to put something past the others goalie. With just over 3 ½ minutes remaining Walkerton’s Xander Thornton fired a shot on net that was stopped by the goalie. Unsure where it was it was directed into his own net giving Walkerton the lead. The ensuing face off had the Capitals skate down the ice with the forwards doing some fine passing Kyle Romphf would centre to Colby Schmidt who sent a pass to Cobi Johnson at the side of the net who would lift the puck over the Blades goalie and into the top of the net.
Another strong team performance, the forwards moved the puck with speed and crisp passing. The defence controlled play in front of its own net while doing a great job of holding the line in the offensive zone. Goal tender Ryan Hinsperger made several outstanding saves throughout the game to preserve the win.
Walkerton Capitals South Bruce Blades
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