t’s been a week of adversity for Haliburton County Husky players – enduring the aftermath of the ice storm. But the squad overcame all of that to take a 3-2 series lead in OJHL second round action. They could eliminate the Toronto Junior Canadiens when the teams clash in Haliburton tonight (April 3).
The storm forced the Huskies to cancel their March 29 game at home. It was rescheduled to March 30, but the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena remained shuttered.
The Huskies had to travel to the Canadiens’ barn instead March 31. They were not back at home again until April 1, playing their first game ever at the A.J. LaRue Arena in Haliburton.
Coach Ryan Ramsay said Tuesday’s tilt in Haliburton was a good game. “We played well. Obviously, it was a great start. We had a little bit of a lapse in the second, but we played well enough to win. Good on the boys.”
The Huskies recorded a 5-2 win, but it was a closer affair with two empty netters to seal the deal.
Ramsay: ‘team with character’
The Huskies scored early: Luke Hampel, from Deandres De Jesus and Chase Lefebvre just 1:38 in. Then, Nathan Poole potted one at 6:46, from Tai York and Nolan Ling.
The Canadiens got one back, at 15:43. Ty Petrou gave the Huskies a 3-1 lead, at 14 minutes, from Cameron Hankai and Alex Bradshaw.
The Canadiens made it a 3-2 game at 9:43 of the third, but Petrou and Isaac Larmand found the empty net.
Ramsay is happy with the likes of Petrou and Poole, saying the team leaders “continue to elevate their game when needed. They’re leaders and they’re great hockey players.”
He added goalie Tyler Hodges has been “great” in the playoffs.
Ramsay talked about how the majority of his players – whether billets or at hockey house – were without power, connectivity, and running water for 48 hours. He said five to seven players were sitting cold and in the dark at homes without generators.
Yet, they boarded a bus to Toronto March 31 when they hadn’t slept or eaten much, or been able to focus well.
“It just shows the character of kids we have this year compared to other years. These guys want to win and they’re really close. Other years, we’ve had good teams but questioned how bad they wanted to win. This group, they’re dialed in and they really want to win as a group. It shows,” Ramsay said.
They beat the Canadiens 3-0 this past Monday, on goals by Larmand, Poole, and Petrou; with Hodges recoding the 29-save shutout.
The team lost 3-1 March 26, with Petrou the lone goal scorer.
Up 3-2 in the series, Ramsay said they have put themselves in a good position to eliminate a good hockey team at home.
“You can’t get ahead of yourself, but I would rather be up 3-2, than down 3-2.
“You hope to get some bounces and some luck. Once you’re this far in the season, every team is good. You need some bounces; you need some luck and you need some guys to have a game. I think our focus is the same thing. You know they are going to come out fighting for their lives because they are, so it’s just that…match that intensity and just be ready to play.”
Next game: Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m. at Haliburton.
