After knocking the Dresden Jr Kings out of the season, the
Atom Rep Jr Flags faced off against the North Middlesex Jr Stars with the
winner getting a date against the South Kent in the league pool
championship
The first three games with the Parkhill based team reflected that the task would not be easy. Our team had ALSO faced this opponent back in October at the Mooretown tournament and the outcome was less than desirable.
Game 1 went to the Stars via a 7-4 loss with the coaching hitting the rest button afterwards bringing to the team back up to a level that had been successful in the closing weeks of the season.
The plan worked as the second game of the best of 5 series reversed the score as Mooretown took the game 7-4 bringing the series back to the MSC for home ice. North Middlesex put the fans on the edge of their seats in the third tilt scoring in the dying minutes to close the gap but the Jr Flags earned the W with a 2-1 victory.
Knowing that North Middlesex's season was on the line, the team knew they would have to pull out all the stops to put them on top. To provide them with an incentive, the coaching staff reached into their bag of tricks and developed the "rally for milk". It was simple....if the team won, each player would get a chocolate milk. Rally for milk!!
Parkhill took the lead early placing Mooretown in a situation where they had to play catch up hockey before the game got away from them. The Flags lost a bit of momentum seeing #13 Chase MacDonald battle hard in a one on one along the boards for the puck but going down awaiting the visit from the trainer. With Chase gone for the game and a visit to the ER, the team's experience throughout the season taught them never to give up. Mooretown responded to the mission at hand battling back trading goals with a tenacious opponent. The Stars didn't want to trade hockey sticks for golf clubs and took the lead in the dying minutes trying to take the series back to their rink prolonging their season. Their plans were put on hold as M-town tied the game sending it to a ten minute OT period.
With the "rally for milk" and #13 C-Mac clearly in their minds, the Jr Flags came out strong. Not wanting this to go on any longer, Trevor Anderson sealed the deal earning the golden bucket with the OT winner.
The coaching staff held true to their word as Slick Sterling pulled the treasure out of his magic cooler and put smiles on all of their faces
It will now be up to Chase's teammates to pull together and fill the void that is left with his absence. C-Mac is in good hockey hands though as while at the hospital he received calls from Lupul, Bozak, and VanRiemsdyk inviting him to hang out with them while they all healed up. #13's play on the back end will be sorely missed. Looking forward to the final series, his intensity will now be the rally point used to overwhelm South Kent with high tempo hockey. Do it for Chase! Go Flags Go!!
MAGIC MILK!
Chase making light of his situation
