Hanover loses hard fought contest against Minto
The Canadian Tire Hanover Falcons played one of their finest games of the season today, playing with both heart and passion against the Minto club, but were unable to close the deal, losing a 3-2 heart breaker.
Hanover got on the board first, with Matthew Howie getting the team in flight at the 8:05 mark of the first period, as he sailed a shot over the shoulder of the Minto netminder, with Chase Blackburn and Dustin Leask assisting.
Minto responded only 2 minutes later to tie the score up, as they beat Hanover goalie Kody Hammell on a point shot from just inside the blue-line. In the first period Hanover established a physical game, with several Hanover players laying heavy body checks on Minto players and forcing them to pay the price for the puck.
The intensity of the game was very evident, with the right to move to the next round of the play-offs on the line. In the second period, Hanover goalie Kody Hammell robbed Minto shooters time and time again, making save after save to keep Hanover in the game. Minto was finally rewarded in the frame at 1:58 when they scored on a rebound in front to take a 2-1 lead to the dressing room after two.
But Hanover was not finished. They came out in the third and controlled the play territorially and were rewarded, as they tied the game up at 10:08, when Matthew Howie converted on some nice hard work from Matt Schierz into the back of the net to tie the game at 2, with Chase Blackburn drawing the assist.
Hanover was controlling the play in the third, but Minto took a 3-2 lead on a bouncing puck that had eyes and found it's way behind Kody Hammell to give Minto a 3-2 lead. Hanover pressed the issue as much as possible, hitting the post, creating several good scoring chances and doing everything possible to tie the game, but were unable to get another goal, falling 3-2 and being eliminated from moving to the next round in the play-offs.
It was a valiant effort by Hanover, with several players playing their best game of the season, including Alex Pendergast, who was force in the game and Quinton Steward, who played his heart out as well.
Despite the loss, the coaching staff was very proud of our team's effort. We talked about having "No Regrets" about he we played before the game and to leave everything we had on the ice and we most certainly did that. We finish our season against Teeswater and with a win will end our play-offs at 7-2-1.
