Mar 03, 2018 | Scott Biser | 738 views
Atom AA Shut Out Caledon To Maintain 1st in Tri County Playoffs
The Guelph Atom AA's used a combination of shut out goaltending from Parker "The Beast" Shany and timely offense to earn a 4-0 victory over the Caledon Hawks on Saturday afternoon to improve their record to 4-1 in their Tri County Qualification round.
After a scoreless first period, the Gryphons got on the board 56 seconds into the second period. After a turnover by Caledon at the Guelph blueline, Landon Mitchell raced down the ice on a breakaway and faked a shot, fooled the Hawks goalie, and slipped the puck into the open net for a 1-0 lead. With 1:22 left in the period, Guelph added to its lead. Tanner Bothwell with some slick puckhandling zipped a pass from the right hashmark in the Caledon zone across to left defenseman Max Grimwood. Grimwood ripped a drive on net that bounced off the shin pad off Matthew Stam, who was causing havoc in front of the Hawks net, and into the net for a 2-0 lead heading into the second intermission.
Guelph added some insurance 3:45 into the third. Oscar Johnson entered the Caledon zone and ripped a shot on net. The rebound came to rest right in front of the Caledon net and Olan Norton pounced on the loose puck and snapped the puck under the cross bar with no hesitation to make the score 3-0. With 7:07 left while playing four on four, defenseman Nathan Schlitt gained control of the puck at the Caledon blueline and maneuvered down low, fighting off his check. When Schlitt's centring pass was blocked, he picked up the loose puck and walked out of the corner and lazered a wrist shot inside the far post to make the score 4-0. Zac McKnight picked up an assist on the play.
With the win, the Gryphons improve their record to 4-1 and currently sit in first place in the log jammed Tri County division. Guelph looks to close out the round robin with a victory on Thursday night in the return match against the Caledon Hawks. The Gryphons control their own destiny and could advance to the Tri County finals with another victory over the Hawks.