|
 For
the 6th year in a row the Northern Vikings boys
hockey team will head to the Lambton Cup finals, as
the Vikings upset the #1 ranked, and undefeated, St.
Christopher's Cyclones 1-0 in overtime at the RBC
Centre on Tuesday afternoon.
The first
period started off as a positioning period, as each
team looked to pick their spots while not giving up
the big play that could lead to a goal. Pietro
Restivo would have the first chance for the Cyclones
but he would lose the handle of the puck before he
could send a proper shot on net. St. Christopher's
would apply the pressure during the middle of the
period, but their shots were blocked or missed wide,
as the Vikings dug in deep on defence.
Back the
other way, a scramble in front of the net couldn't
be shovelled home as Pat Brennan made the save to
keep it scoreless.
The pace
and intensity quickened as each team turned to using
the body to get position. Restivo still looking for
a goal would have wide open cage at the side of the
crease, but as the puck came out from the scramble
onto his stick, Viking goalie Brandon Johnson dived
across with the stick to make the huge save, robbing
Restivo of a for sure goal. League leading scorer
Corey Pawley would have two chances near the end of
the period, but his first shot sailed through the
crease, while his other went straight into the
goalie.
Despite
getting many great scoring chances on the powerplay,
the period ended scoreless.
Northern
would start the second on the offensive, as their
first shot trickled through the pads of Brennan but
rested on the goal line. Brennan was able to dive
back and clear the puck from his crease before it
crossed the goal line.
Both teams
would get their chanced but Brennan and Johnson kept
the doors closed, playing for the chance to move
into the finals.
In the
third period the Cyclones would have issue clearing
the puck passed the red line, as the Vikings
continued to hold the blue line and dump the puck in
deep, resulting in many good scoring chances that
Brannan was able to turn away. The Cyclones finally
manage to break out and cycle the puck in the Viking
zone, but their lone shot sailed into the chest
protector of Johnson.
The
Vikings would get another great chance as a scramble
in front results in the puck squirting out just wide
of the net. Coming back the other way Matteo
Ciccarelli had two shots on net, both stopped by
Johnson, as well as a big kick save on Brandon
Moore.
With time
winding down, Corey Pawley manages to skate through
the Viking defence, but his shot catches the pad of
Johnson and goes wide, as the third period ended
scoreless and the semi-final match headed to
overtime.
The
overtime period did not last long. Dylan Regan of
the Cyclones brought the puck out front of the net,
but he coughed it up and Elliot Pecora picked it up,
deked Brannan and slide the puck in the net
twenty-four seconds into the overtime period to send
the Vikings back to the Lambton Cup final.
St.
Christopher's coming into the game did not lose all
season, going 7-0-2 in nine games. The Vikings, who
won the Shamrock Tournament at the beginning of the
year had a tough regular season, going 4-4-1,
winning their last two in the final week of the
season.
The
Vikings will wait till Thursday to see who they will
face in the finals between St. Clair and LCCVI.
Northern and LCCVI have played in the finals for the
Lambton Cup the last five seasons. St. Clair's last
visit to the finals was back in the 1998-1999
season.
The
Lambton Cup finals will be held on February 23rd at
Sarnia Arnea at 7:00pm.
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