The Walkerton Capitals would faceoff against the Saugeen
Shores Storm (2) on March 14, 2024. The
home game would take place in the Mildmay arena. The Storm had a winning record against the
Capitals during the regular season series with a tie and a late season shutout
win. The Capitals would currently sit at
second place in the playoff race and still hold a few games in hand but each
and every point would become valuable.
Walkerton would come out quickly in the first period and would
be rewarded early and often. The
Capitals would open the scoring just two and a half minutes into the period
when Chase Kaufman scored after picking up a loose rebound and firing the puck
into the Storm net while on the powerplay.
Duncan Abell and Luka Abell would pick up assists on the play. Walkerton would score again with just under
ten minutes remaining when Colby Schmidt finished a beautiful two on one entry after
taking a pass from Kyle Graul. Owen
Waddell would pick up the secondary assist on the goal. The scoring would continue when Chase Kaufman
sent a wrist shot under the blocker of the Storm netminder after taking a
centering pass from behind the net.
Assists on the goal were awarded to Spencer Odell and Duncan Abell. The Capitals added another goal when a blast
from Luka Abell on the blue line found the back of the net through a maze of
players and legs out front. Duncan Abell
and Colby Schmidt would pick up assists on this goal. The scoring for the period would wrap up with
just over two minutes remaining when Logan Anness scored after his shot hit several
defenders and caught the back corner of the net. The Walkerton Capitals would hold a 5-0 lead
after the first period.
The second period and the teams would continue to battle
back and forth. Saugeen Shores would
score midway into the period but Walkerton would respond when Luka Abell scored
on a slapshot from the point that found the back of the net. The Capitals would add to the lead when Matthew
McNaughton finished a nice three way passing play with a shot that beat the
Storm’s netminder. Travis Goll and
Jasper Rowe would get the assists on the play.
Walkerton would score with nineteen seconds remaining when Luka Abell
completed the hat trick with his third goal of the game with a wrist shot from
the top of the faceoff circle. Colby Schmidt
and Keegan Batte would get the helpers on the play. The Capitals held a commanding 8-1 lead after
thirty minutes of play.
The third period would see Del Freiburger take over as
goalie in the Walkerton net. The scoring
would continue when Luka Abell scored bar down with a wrist shot over the shoulder
of the Storm netminder. Del Freiburger
would be credited with the assist. A few
minutes later Luka was finding the back of the net again when his one timer beat
the goalie through the five hole. Colby
Schmidt and Curtis Rowe would get the assists.
The scoring would wrap up in the final ninety seconds when Luka Abell
scored his sixth of the game after he outwaited the Saugeen Shores goalie and
then deked around him before sliding the puck home. Connor Farrell and Keegan Batte would pick up
the helpers on the play.
The Capitals would play a very dominant game from start to
finish. The win would pull the Capitals
within a point of the top spot overall in the standings with a game still in
hand. The final weekend will see Walkerton
play two games and fighting for control of that top position. Smart hockey with great passing and staying
out of the penalty box were keys to the Capitals victory. Here is hoping it continues throughout the
weekend.
WALKERTON CAPITALS - 11
SAUGEEN SHORES STORM (2)
- 1