Feb 05, 2011 | erorseth | 1118 views
AMHERSTBURG 97 STARS BATTLE ST. THOMAS TO ADVANCE TO QUARTERFINALS
This afternoon the Aburg 97 Stars will once again battle St. Thomas jr's in the first of two possible games this weekend. These games will determine who will advance to the OMHA playdown quarterfinals. Game time today is 3:00 PM at the Amherstburg Recreation Complex. (cont'd)
Last weekend found the 97 Star's travelling to the St. Thomas Timken arena where the guys managed to bring home a 50-50 split after winning one of the two games. The series is now one win for Amherstburg and two wins for St. Thomas who also took the opener in Amherstburg earlier. Last Saturdays game turned out to be a real thriller in St. Thomas after the Star's found themselves down by a pair at the intermission. The game was a very tough back and forth battle in which the 97 Stars defence along with the determination of #30 Werner kept the opposition to only two goals by the end of the second, but Amherstburg still needed to find the back of the mesh. Through hard work the 97's kept fighting in the corners and skating hard until it appeared that the St. Thomas juniors began to feel the never ending pressure. After the ice was surfaced, the Amherstburg coaching staff knew that the boys had to take advantage of a powerplay and get on the board. The plan worked, and 10 seconds into the 3rd the Aburg Stars lit the lamp when #25 Damico opened the scoring with a quick shot after the opening faceoff. The 97's were determined to pressure St. Thomas and shortly after the game was knotted after #91 Fritsch scored off and assist from #55 Lenson. With the score now 2-2 the inevitable was on the crowds mind. The tide had changed and a blistering slap shot from the point got #5 Pardo the go ahead goal unassisted giving the Aburg Stars a 3-2 lead, what a difference momentum had made for the 97's. As frustration grew the opposition almost needed a reservation to get in their penalty box. The Star's were ready to take advantage of this opportunity and did so when #88 Dennis blasted one past the Junior's goaltender off an assist from #2 Wismer. As St. Thomas tried to turn around this impending upset, the 97's continued to play harder and were not going to leave without a victory. As the game wound down, #5 Pardo finished off St. Thomas' hope of a comeback after getting his second unassisted goal putting the Star's up by a score of 5-2. The whole team came together, backed up by #30 Werner, and turned this game around. The series would be tied for a short time at one game per team however Sunday's game found the 97 Star's unable to find the net, although battling hard and a rejuvenated St. Thomas team came up with the 4-0 win on this day. As the weekend came to a close the series was headed back to Amherstburg with St. Thomas up by one game.
This afternoon's game is pivotal as the Amherstburg Stars will need to bring out a disciplined hard playing game style to combat the rested St. Thomas juniors. The 97's will need a big win today, followed by a win Sunday back in St. Thomas to proceed to the quarterfinals. The Aburg 97's are prepared and anxious to hit the ice backed by a loud home crowd in the Amherstburg Rec Complex! Puck drops at 3:00 this afternoon, don't miss this one!
GO STARS !!!