The U15 Rep Timber Mart Highland Storm hosted the Orono Leafs in their final home game of the 2022-23 season March 17.
The crowd was buzzing with both home and away fans, and the game got off to a fast start, with the Storm applying pressure early and often.
After some strong defensive play by Jack Peters, passing the puck to blueline partner, Evan Jones, he noticed a streaking Austin Latanville. Jones fed Latanville with a stretch pass up the middle for a breakaway. Latanville, with some silky hands, dangled the Orono goalie to open the scoring in the first.
The Storm carried a 1-0 lead into the second and never let up, with four more goals, by Josh Scheffee, Deagen Davison for two, and Latanville, potting his second of the night. Goals were assisted by Jones, Gallant, Scheffee, Cox and Peters. The Storm cruised into the third with a 5-0 lead, but knew the work was not over.
The final frame saw pretty much the same action, and with some unreal goaltending by Hudson Horsely, who kept the game at 5-0. With Orono’s season on the line, they brought everything they had. By the midpoint of the third, the Leafs were able to tap into the scoring and made it a 5-3 game.
After a timeout was called, the Storm were able to regroup and play solid shut down hockey, quickly clearing the puck out of their zone and clogging the neutral zone. The Leafs scrambled and were unable to gain access to the Storm zone.
The Storm was able to shut them down and carry a 5-3 score to the final buzzer, treating their family and friends to the final home game win.
