Atom Local Leagues ends play-offs with strong victory over Walkerton
The Atom Local League crew put in a very fine effort this morning, to finish off their play-off schedule with an 8-2 record and in second, behind only the undefeated Lucknow team, as they handed Walkerton a 5-1 loss.
Hanover came out solidly in the first period and were rewarded at the 6:28 mark, as Skyler Bailey fired the puck behind a helpless Walkerton goalie, unassisted to make it 1-0 Hanover. Later in the frame Walkerton brought some pressure down low in the Hanover zone, but goalie Gregory Scales was very sharp and kept Walkerton off the score sheet.
In the second period, it was a serious battle, as both teams had some good chances and pressure on the other, but Hanover was able to make it 2-0, when winger Dylan Freiburger sent a missile off his stick and into the Walkerton net, with Skyler Bailey and Quinton Steward picking up the assists on the play.
Ahead to the third period and Walkerton closed the gap to 2-1, when Chris Cormack had a breakaway and knocked the puck behind Scales to cut the lead in half. Later in the period, Hanover started putting some serious heat on Walkerton and were rewarded for their efforts, when winger Dylan Freiburger and centre Matthew Howie combined on a nice passing play, with Freiburger firing home his second of the game to make it 3-1, with Howie and defenceman Brook Bross drawing the assists.
Hanover refused to let up and kept working hard at winning the battles and made it 4-1 when Ridge Patterson notched a goal, earned on some great hard work by him and his line, with winger Shay Chittick and defenceman Dustin Leask drawing the assists.
Walkerton pulled their goalie to try and get closer, but Hanover dashed their hopes, as centre Matthew Howie put the puck into an empty net to make it a 5-1 Hanover win.
It was a nice way to finish off our play-off schedule, with some nice contributions throughout the line-up. A nice effort was put in by defenceman Quinton Steward, who was not feeling well, but played several shifts to help the team as much as he could and he played quite well. The entire defence core of Jordan Mauer, Brook Bross, Matt Schierz and Dustin Leask all contributed significantly to the win.
The forwards were working hard and doing a great job of winning their battles and deserve a ton of credit. Winger Quintin Graydon, although not on the score sheet, played quite well and did a very good job winning his shifts, as did team captain Kyler Knoll. Gregory Scales was excellent in the Hanover nets and kept the Walkerton shooters at bay and quite frustrated. It was as complete a team win as we've had all year.
Good job fellas and we look forward to seeing many of you in the Maple Lodge tournament in Whitby in early April. Dylan Freiburger has earned the honour of wearing the rotating "A" in that tournament's first game with his play today.
