Attack Take on the Ice in Tiebreaker
It is do or die for the Owen Sound Attack in the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup. The Attack take on the Kootenay Ice in the tie breaker game this evening, with the winner moving on to Friday’s semi-final against the Mississauga St. Michael’s Major’s and the loser going home.
The Attack were without 40 goal scorer and captain Garrett Wilson and also 37 goal scorer Joey Hishon who are both sitting out with head injuries. Scott Stajcer will get the start in goal and Kurtis Gabriel will be inserted into the lineup.
With Garrett Wilson and Joey Hishon’s jersey’s hung on the bench, the Attack took to the ice for the first period of the crucial tiebreaker game. The boys started off well, moving the puck, getting the puck deep and forechecking. They would be rewarded 7:12 in when Cameron Brace notched his first of the tournament from Shaw and Halmo.
The Attack once again ran into penalty trouble. With two men in the box, Kootenay peppered Scott Stajcer with several quality chances, but the veteran netminder stood tall to preserve the one goal lead. With the momentum the Attack re grouped and after gaining the zone off an impressive rush, Jesse Blacker notched his first tally of the tourney to give the Attack a 2-0 lead.
The legs the Attack had in the first did not show up for the second. After Mike Halmo was sent to the box for tripping, the Ice capitalized at the trail end of the powerplay to pull within one. Just several minutes later with the Attack on the man advantage, Cody Eakin beat the Owen Sound defender off the wall and layed a nice pass to Joe Antilla who fired one over the shoulder over Scott Stajcer.
Only several minutes later, the Attack were back on the penalty kill. Matt Fraser received a pass from the point and walked in to blast one past Stajcer to give the Ice a 3-2 lead heading into the third period.
In the third period, the boys just plain ran out of gas. The Ice went on to score three unanswered goals to jump out to a 6-2 lead before the Attack were able to pull within three. That would be it for the boys from the Sound though as the Ice would add an empty netter and clinch their spot into the semi finals.
The Attack’s effort was brave and valiant, but on this day, they simply just did not have the horses…
The Attack wish to thank ALL of the fans for their support over this incredible playoff run. It could not have been done without you!
A full re-cap of the week’s events to come tomorrow.
