We have to be happy with our bronze medal performance from our first trip in team history to the Ontario Championship Finals. Entering the tournament as an invite and taking the #42 seed from Belleville, no one gave us a chance of even getting passed the first round, never mind going all the way to the semi finals. We had to play against teams that were seeded much higher and that were expected to beat us all weekend long.
What I liked most was our attitude that we knew we belonged there and that we considered ourselves the favorites in each game that we played. We played hard, we played as a team and we sacrificed for each other all tournament long. It was a tough road to get to the semi-finals and we proved to all our peers and opponents that we are team to be reckoned with in the future.
Preliminary Round (Game #1)
Rink Dawgs – 4 Brampton All-Stars – 0
We started the tournament a little tight, maybe somewhat nervous. I thought we had a number of good scoring chances and limited them to only a few opportunities. We were able to get on the board first, on a goal by Andrew Lazaridis, assisted by Mark Krupa with 3:21 to play in the first half. In the 2nd half we played a much more dominant game, with lots of shots and keeping the play in their zone. We added goals by Jamie Farrow, Tom & Ted Kolkas, while on the other end of the floor Pat Lucas shut the door for a shutout, giving the Dawgs a win in our first provincials appearance.
Preliminary Round (Game #2)
Rink Dawgs – 5 Whalers – 3
Heading into game two of the tournament, our confidence was riding high. To start the game our opponents had a short bench. I think we thought we could jump all over them from the get go. It didn’t quite turn out that way, the first half was kind of back and forth with the teams trading goals. In the second half, we started putting on the pressure. We had a powerplay goal called back (flashbacks of Niagara Falls), but we kept our composure and came right back on the next shift and put in that PP goal. They were able to score a long goal to make it interesting, but in the end we were able to keep it 5-3.
With the win we were able to advance onto the round of sweet 16 with a 2-0 record and a 0.750 pct. That gave us the #12 seed, setting us up to face the #5 seed and one of the tournament favorites in the Cobras!
Round of Sixteen (Game #3)
Rink Dawgs – 3 Cobras – 2 (Shootout)
Emotions were high and the adrenaline was pumping after successfully advancing past the first round. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the Dawgs were scheduled to meet one of the favorites to win it all, the Cobras. With the likes of Rick Lee, Chirs Monaghan, Scott McLean, Jerry Cowan, Gordie Scott, and not to mention a full bench of 4 lines. Nobody gave us a chance to even stay close in the game, but we dug deep and showed everybody that we demand respect.
The game saw it’s fair share of penalties, with both teams getting powerplay opportunities. In the first half we were able to bring the play to them, keeping the pressure on and creating scoring chances. In the second half, we saw our energy level drop a bit causing us to take some penalties. The score was 2-1 for the Dawgs with less than 5 minutes to go in the game. We took 2 penalties late giving their potent attack an opportunity to get back into the game. Pat Lucas played the game of his life, making difficult save after save to keep us ahead and giving us a chance to win the game. The Cobras were able to finally capitalize on the 5 on 3 to tie the game and send the game into a shootout.
We started the shootout on the right note, with Veteran David Silva taking the first shot and putting it upstairs over the glove of the goalie. While on the other end, Pat made his first of nine saves during the long shootout. They scored to tie it 1-1 and that was the only goal they were able to get on Pat. On our 10th shooter, Antonio Geraci was able to score the biggest goal of his career with the game winning shootout goal. Giving us the 3-2 victory and a quarterfinal match up with an arch rival from the YCBHL, The Big Bastone.
Quarterfinals (Game #4)
Rink Dawgs – 3 Bastone – 2 (Overtime)
Entering the quarterfinal match up, the Bastone were the only thing in the way of at least guaranteeing us a medal. Both teams are always up to playing one another and this game was no exception. With a chance to get to the semifinals on the line, this game proved to be a hard fought battle and both teams gave it all they had.
It was an intense start to the game, with lots of pressure by both teams and lots of physical play. We drew the first penalty just 1:08 into the game, but were unable to generate any good scoring chances. Ten seconds after their penalty expired, Mark Krupa was called for a hit from behind and was assessed a 2 minute minor, 10 minute game misconduct, game ejection and received a 1 game suspension. It was the first time I had seen a hit from behind not receive a 5 minute major, but still saw a player get tossed from a game.
Needless to say this put us down 2 men, with Joe Lucas being injured in the preliminary game. We went with 2 centres, 3 sets of wingers and 4 defensemen for pretty much the rest of the tournament. They were able to score on the powerplay to take a 1-0 lead in the first. We stuck with our game plan of putting pressure on their defense and it paid off with 5:02 to go in the first when Tony Rowe scored to tie the game receiving a beautiful pass form Jamie Farrow.
The first 10 minutes of the second half saw both teams trading chances, but with nobody able to solve the goaltenders. Pat Lucas played another stellar game for the Rink Dawgs, giving us every opportunity to win the game. Tom Kolkas was able to break the deadlock with a goal assisted by Donny Lagos and David Silva giving us the 2-1 lead with about 5 minutes to play in the game. The Dawgs thought they were on their way to victory but with just 3 seconds to play with the goalie pulled, the Bastone were able to bounce the tying goal in off a foot to force the game into overtime.
By the start of the overtime, the Rink Dawgs were exhausted. With only being able to go with 12 players in the OT and seeing what looked like the full 22 players on the opponents side, we knew we had our work cut out for us. It was a nervous overtime and when Ted Kolkas got called for body contact with 4:27 to go in the game, we were looking to just kill off the penalty and try to get to another shootout. With about a minute gone in the penalty, Tom Kolkas made a great play on the boards to get the ball passed the defenseman and nearly sent Jamie Farrow on a breakaway. With both players being out of gas, Tom was able to get the ball over to Jamie and from just inside the blueline, he riffled the shorthanded game winning overtime goal past the keeper giving the Dawgs a birth in the semifinals.
Semifinals (Game #5)
Punishers 7 Rink Dawgs – 0
Going into the semifinals, we really felt that we were destined to make it to the Championship Finals game. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, especially when you get this late into a tournament. The remaining teams are quality opponents and playing your 5th game in 1 and 1/2 days is grueling. Already down to 12 men for the semifinals, no one could predict what would happen next. On the way to the arena Carm DiLuciano was involved in an accident about 5 minutes from the rink. A lady pulled out in front of Carm on a red light causing him to hit her pretty good, fortunately nobody was hurt. David Silva & Mike Gisarov who were traveling behind Carm were lucky to get out of the way in time.
Now down to 11 men to start the game and some of the moods in the dressing room down from the news about the accident. The Punishers were able to get 2 quick early goals to jump ahead and really never looked back. By the time Carm made it to the arena and got into the game, it was already 5-0 by halftime. They proved to be too much for us and with nothing left in our tanks, they were able to pot 2 more goals and earn their spot in the finals.
Though we were disappointed with the result of the game, we were very happy with the way we represented ourselves in our first trip to the Provincials. Finishing third in Ontario has a nice ring to it. Besides this will just leave us that much more hungry for next year. Everyone played great on the team from the veterans to the young bloods, we worked our asses off and it almost paid off. I want to make a special mention to the “EEE” line, Antonio Geraci, Tom Kolkas & Jamie Farrow, you guys had a great tournament and caused all kinds of problems for our opponents. Also to the “D”, I know it was tough going with only 4 guys all tournament long, but you guys really stepped up your game. Lastly, Pat Lucas, without your great goaltending, especially in the round of 16 & quarterfinals, we would have gone home a lot sooner.
We are proud of all of you guys and I hope you are as proud of wearing that name on the front of your jersey as we are……………………….1-2-3 DAWGS!!!!!!
