Championship Game 1 vs. Listowel Cyclones
The Walkerton Capitals would travel to Listowel on March 20,
2019 to play Game 1 of the White Championship.
The two teams would each have won their respective division rounds so
everyone was expecting it to be a close series.
The Capitals would come out quickly and force play in the Cyclones zone. Walkerton would open the scoring just before the four minute mark when Cody McIntyre would go top shelf after taking a pass in the neutral zone and then splitting the defence, assisting on the goal were Owen Young and Logan Bradley. The Capitals would then increase its lead when Cody McIntyre would score again after going wide down the wing and cutting into the front of the net and firing a wrist shot over the glove hand of the Listowel goalie, Jack Walter would be credited with the assist. The Cyclones would continue to battle back and would make several valiant attempts in the Walkerton zone but goalie, Caden Chapman was stellar in the Walkerton net. Walkerton would lead 2-0 after the first period.
During the second period the two teams would continue to battle. Listowel would score four and a half minutes into the period to cut the lead in half. The two goal lead would be restored about two minutes later when the Capitals held the puck in the Cyclones zone and were rewarded when Chase Kaufman fired a shot from just inside the blue line that would find the back of the net, Kyle Graul would be credited with the assist on the play. Walkerton would lead 3-1 with two periods completed.
Walkerton would score early in the third period when Cody McIntyre completed the hat trick after a goalmouth scramble, when he was able to lift the puck into the back of the net, assisting on the play again was Kyle Graul. The two teams would continue to battle back and forth and with time winding down the Cyclones would score twice just over a minute apart to pull within a goal. The Cyclones would call a time out with a 1:37 remaining this would give the Capitals coaching staff the chance to settle the boys down and remind them of the play that got them to this series in the first place. The boys on the ice did a great job of clearing the Walkerton zone and chasing loose pucks in the neutral areas of the ice.
The boys would hang on and take game 1 by a final score of 4-3. Overall a very good start for the Walkerton Capitals. The boys played hard and smart hockey for 95% of the game. It was small mental lapses in the final few moments that allowed Listowel back into the game. Walkerton will have a chance to win the best of three series at home in their next game.
WALKERTON CAPITALS LISTOWEL CYCLONES
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