The Midget AE Crusaders got
past the South Bruce team to go to the OMHA semi finals.
The Crusaders headed to New Castle on Saturday February 22nd for the first game in a 6 point series. The Crusaders started the scoring at 11:15 in the first period with a goal by Scott Dolmage assisted by Hunter Dale. The Crusaders took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd with Connor Rodger making a perfect pass to Braydon Whitfield who got it past the New Castle goalie. The lead was held until the 3rd period with a goal by New Castle. With 3:11 left in the third period New Castle tied it up. After a 10 minute sudden death period the game was left a tie at 2-2.
After a night spent in Whitby the boys were back at the New Castle arena for game 2. Scoring started in the first by New Castle. Blyth had a slow start scoring, but finally Kyle Pollard had a shot from the blue line that went past the goalie with assistance from C. Rodger. That would end the scoring for the Crusaders and they would head back to Blyth with a 5-1 loss.
Game 3 was in Blyth on Saturday March 1st, down 3-1 in the points standing.
New Castle started the scoring in the 2nd period with 3 goals. The Crusaders couldn’t get it past the New Castle net minder and the final score was 3-0.
Sunday March 2nd, the Crusaders would be on home ice again with a do or die situation.
There was a packed crowd to cheer on the Crusaders in what could have been the final game.
The first 2 goals were scored by New Castle in the first period. The Crusaders weren’t going to go down so easily and answered back with a goal scored by Whitfield and assisted by Dalton Richmond and Geremy Grisdale. The 2nd one to close out the period was scored by Curtis Raynard and assisted by Dale.
New Castle started the 2nd period with a goal at 12:02. 2 minutes later the Crusaders tied it up again with a goal scored by Pollard and assisted by Raynard. Whitfield scored the Crusaders 4th goal with 4:03 left in the 2nd, unassisted. A hard fought 3rd period by the Crusaders would give them the win with a score of 4-3.
It was back to New Castle for game 5 on March 8th. The series was New Castle 5, Crusaders 3.
The Crusaders came out with a winning attitude.
New Castle started the scoring at 6:01 in the first. 2 min later Dale scored with a pass from Dolmage and Raynard. A second goal was scored by Raynard with an assist from Reece McArter and Dolmage. With 2:43 left in the third New Castle tied the game. The Crusaders had to win to keep the series alive. With 1:01 left in the game Dale scored an unassisted goal to give the Crusaders the win and a tie of the series at 5.
The final game of the series was played in Blyth on Sunday March 9th.
With another packed arena the Crusaders came with their game faced on. The Crusaders came out in the first scoring late in the period with a goal by Josh Vansoest with assistance by Dalen Martin and Brandon Marshall. With 22 seconds left in the first period Marshall scored the Crusaders 2nd goal with the assist going to Vansoest. Period 2 was scoreless and the Crusaders were up 2-0. New Castle came out in the third with 1:36 left. This goal was matched by a goal scored by Martin and assisted by Vansoest to give the Crusaders the win. Playing a stellar series in net was Dalton Carey with Austin Jamieson-Johnson as his back up.
The Crusaders would head to the finals against Caledonia.
The finals started in Blyth on Saturday March 15th.
Blyth lost 3-0.
Game 2 was in Caledonia on Sunday March 16th. The first goal was scored by Caledonia.
Dale came back with a goal in the second assisted by Raynard. Caledonia came back with another goal and the Crusaders would have another loss of 2-0.
Game 3 is back in Blyth on Saturday March 22nd at 3:00 p.m.
Blyth’s roster consists of:
Dalton Carey, Austin Jamieson-Johnson, Hunter Dale, Scott Dolmage, Jordan Hubbard, Austin Johnston, Brandon Marshall, Reece McArter, Sean Mitchell, Kyle Pollard, Curtis Raynard, Justin Rodger, Connor Rodger, Josh Vansoest, Dalen Martin, Braydon Whitfield, Dalton Richmond. Head coach is Scott Johnson, Asst. Coach is Glenn Raynard, Trainer is Steve Dolmage and Manager is Belinda Marshall.
by Pam Campbell