Attack Tie Final At -2-2 with OT Win !
Game 4 of the Ontario Hockey League Rogers Championship Series for the J. Ross Robertson Cup featuring our Owen Sound Attack and the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors, was played at the J. D. McAthur Arena/Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Center Sunday afternoon before a sell-out crowd.
Harry would be proud of our Attack ! Owen Sound 2 – Mississauga 1 Overtime ! Happy Mother’s Day !
This town is ROCKING !
A breakaway goal by Cameron Brace at the 16:00 mark of the first overtime period tied this series at two. Game five of this now best-of-three Championship series goes in Mississauga Tuesday night. Game six and the final home game for our Attack this special 2010-2011 OHL season, will be in Owen Sound Thursday at 7:00 regardless of the outcome of either game.
Unlike the first three games, goals may now be hard to come by. Scores of 5-2, 6-2 and 6-5 may be history. Fans could tell right from the get go that these two teams have now got to know each other (they meet just twice during the regular season) and now the war will be decided by all the little battles. This line against that line. This defence on the ice when that forward is on. Jab that player from behind. He’ll respond. These final few games in the race for the Robertson Cup should be great.
JP Anderson got the start in the Mississauga net as expected. Michael Zador backstopped his Attack to the overtime victory in Game 3. Attack Head Coach Mark Reeds had Michael in his nets once again (the Attack have three legitimate starting goaltenders).
Period one was a bit of a wild affair. Nine of the evening’s 13 penalty infractions were called as opposing players set the tone of the game with each other. Some real good sqirmishes between high end players. Like the battle between Attack star center Joey Hishon and Majors Captain and star center Casey Cizikas. Try telling either one of those players that they were going to lose this game. The dust settled at the end of period one. No scoring. Shots 10-9 Majors. The penalty parade settled down the rest of the way.
This franchise moved to Owen Sound for the 1989 OHL season. There have been many great players play for us and many great games for Plater and Attack fans to witness, but might this game be the most emotional, important and exciting? After all, we have not been to a league Championship final before. We had fallen behind the best team in the OHL, two games to none. And a loss here at home would put our boys down 3-1.
The Majors scored first. With just 4:39 left in regulation time, JP Anderson shot the puck the length of the ice and to the left of Michael Zador. The way the puck came off the backboards, Michael could not leave his crease area to retrieve it. Carolina Hurricane prospect Justin Shugg raced down the ice, snapped up that loose puck and deposited it behind Zador. Near silence in the McArthur Arena for a few seconds.
But this 2010-2011 Attack hockey club has never let a little adversity get in their way. Defenceman Matt Petgrave – the hero of game 3 with his OT goal – took up the challenge and tried to race down the ice towards the Mississauga net. Tripped up at the Major’s blueline by Riley Brace, our Attack went to the PP. Robby Mignardi with his league leading 14th goal of the post season tied the affair at 16:16 and the joint was jumping.
It took 16 minutes for our Attack to win it in OT. Cameron Brace has been given the chance to play right wing with Joey Hishon and Garrett Wilson. In the place of injured Andrew Fritsch. Cameron’s number one gift is his skating speed. In a bit of trouble in their own end and Joey losing his stick, things were a little hectic when the puck went back to the left point. Joey went for his stick, turned toward the shooter, stopped the shot with his right foot, Cameron took off towards center ice, those soft hands of Joey’s found Cameron’s stick on the fly and it was breakaway time. Wristing it by Anderson’s stick hand, Cameron might as well be the Mayor of the City. Till next game ! Attack fans couldn’t cheer any louder !
Final score Owen Sound 2 – Mississauga 1 OT. Final shots on net 42-40 Mississauga. The Majors were 0 for 3 on the PP. Our Attack 1 for 6. Game five Tuesday night.
The Dickies Clothing Hardest Working Player of the Game was Keevin Cutting.
The Kelsey’s Neighbourhood Bar and Grill Attacker of the Game was Michael Zador.
The 3 Stars of the Game were:
1st Star – Cameron Brace.
2nd Star – JP Anderson.
3rd Star – Michael “Close the Door” Zador. Happy Birthday Michael !
Game 1 – Tuesday May 3rd, Mississauga 5 – Owen Sound 2 EN.
Game 2 – Thursday May 5 Mississauga 6 – Owen Sound 2 EN.
Game 3 – Friday May 6, Owen Sound 6 – Mississauga 5 OT.
Game 4 – Sunday May 8, Owen Sound 2 – Mississauga 1 OT.
Game 5 – Tuesday May 10 at 7:00 pm at Mississauga
Game 6 – Thursday May 12 at 7:00 pm at Owen Sound
Game 7 – Sunday May 15 at 2:00 pm at Mississauga*
*if necessary
Don’t miss any games ! All road games can be heard live on Grey Motors Bear Radio with Fred Wallace on AM560 CFOS, on Rogers TV local Channel 53 or via OHL Livestream online by clicking https://ohl.neulion.com/ohl/.
Tickets for the Thursday, May 12th, final home game of the season for our Attack, go on sale Monday, May 9th, at 10:00 a.m.
Season ticket holders are reminded that your seat is held for every playoff game until 1:00 p.m. the day BEFORE a scheduled playoff game. If you have not paid for your seat by this deadline, the seats will be released for sale to the general public.
Fans are reminded that by purchasing Season Tickets for the 2011/2012 season, they will have their seats held for them for the remainder of the 2011 playoffs as current season ticket holders do.
The Attack box office is open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Phone orders at 371-7452 or toll free 1-866-5ATTACK.
Internet orders at www.attackhockey.com.
