Minor midget South Grenville Rangers drop pair of close games

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By EMC News

EMC Sports - It was a game filled with good scoring chances, great defensive plays, and even an all-out brawl, but the Minor Midget Rangers were left on the short end of a 3-2 score on Feb. 1 in Athens.

Auston Wickware scored both goals for South Grenville, filling in on forward for injured John Lawless. Athens scored off the opening face off from an effective shot from the slot.

Back and forth action then ensued, with both Aaron White and Nick Grant breaking up 2 on 1 plays.

Goalie Wes Schutten made a big save on an Athens breakaway.

The Rangers became somewhat deflated after Athens scored its go-ahead goal in the second period, the result of a slow whistle in the crease. But with 51 seconds left in the second period, Wickware scored on the backhand, assisted by Brad Moore and Ryan Wilson.

The third period saw Athens scoring on a nifty tic tac toe play.

Then Athens dealt out what appeared to be a blatant head shot to the glass. There was no penalty was called which resulted in four different fight pairings. A total of eight players were ejected from the game. South Grenville ended up shorthanded, thwarting their comeback drive.

Wickware scored his second goal with 57 seconds left in the game by romping in around the defence, assisted by Jordan Shipclark. The game's hard hitter was Aaron White, and Sam Muise was an effective two-way player.

The Minor Midget Rangers then played South Stormont the next day (Feb. 2), with a reduced squad due to the previous game's fight suspensions. The final score was 3-1 for South Stormont.

In the first period, the Rangers played mostly in their end due to reoccurring visits to the sin bin.

The Rangers had three good cross-crease scoring chances in a row in the second period. They got on the scoreboard on a tip-in by Brad Moore off a hard point shot by Mitchell Visser. The second assist went to Auston Wickware.

Both Ty Bologna and Brad Moore had breakaway chances.

The third period saw South Stormont take the lead on three unanswered goals. Their tying goal was actually scored by a Ranger trying to get the loose puck to goalie David Armstrong.

South Stormont's next goal, which turned out to be the winner, hit the post and went behind the net, but was inexplicably called a goal. Even South Stormont was surprised by the outcome!

Their insurance goal was scored on a nice breakaway.

Biggest hit of the game was a crusher dealt by Brad Moore. Wickware exhibited some nifty moves on offence.