Jan 13, 2015 | khussey | 1358 views
Big Win Caps Off Busy Weekend
After their victory on Hockey Day in Howick, the Midget Hornets still had a pair of games to play this past weekend. On Sunday they travelled to Kincardine for the first of these matches.
A slow start allowed the home side to build a 2-0 lead early in the second period. It was at this time the Hornets decided they would not drop these two points without a fight. Evan Fraser picked up the puck at his own blue line and fired a pass to Dustin Robertson. Robertson simply tipped the puck ahead to Cole Miller at centre ice. Miller broke in and headed to the net. His shot beat the Kincardine keeper short side to put Howick on the board.
The Hornets were hungry to draw even in the third. Only half a minute in Miller got the puck in the slot. Despite laying on the ice after being tripped, Miller's shot found its way home to knot the game at two. Assists on this amazing effort went to Robertson and Evan Hoffele. This score would hold up until late in the game. Kincardine would break the tie with under two minutes left. An empty net goal to make it 4-2 would seal the game for the home side, in spite of Howick's comeback effort.
The Hornets were back in action the following night, with a home game against the South Bruce Otters on the schedule. The Midgets were ready to go right from the opening face off on this night, eager to not have to play from behind on back to back nights. Howick's attacks were met with a stifling defense from the Otters. The South Bruce defensemen blocked many of the Howick shots in the early going. The Hornet defense was just as strong, leaving the game scoreless after the opening frame.
The second period would put these strong defenses to the test on both ends. Howick's was the first to falter as a long shot found its way home to put South Bruce up 1-0. This only strengthened the Hornets drive as only a couple minutes later Evan Hoffele picked up the puck at the attacking blue line. He drew both defensemen and while taking a hit, made a quick pass to Miller. This put Miller in alone on a breakaway. A precise shot screamed pass the goaltender to level things up. Late in the period Howick was pressing again. Robertson's cross ice pass found Kyle Dickert at the blue line, who then rocketed a slap shot at net. Graham Devlin tipped the shot five hole to give his team the lead at the break.
Not happy to sit on a one goal lead, the Hornets were hungry to stretch their lead in the third, and stretch it they did. In the opening minute, Dickert's long pass found Devlin, who then scored his second goal of the game. The Hornet defense, along with Blake Fraser in goal, held that lead until late. The Hornets were too much for South Bruce as Robertson and Tristan Brears both scored in the final minutes. When the dust settled, Howick came out of this fiery match up with a 5-1 victory.