On
Monday January 18th The Kelsey's Orillia North Central Predators travelled
to Barrie to take on the Barrie Colts in the 2nd Annual Start Talking Cup
game. The Predators and Colts are close in the ETA west standings,
adding to the intensity of the game. The first period was fast paced with
both teams not wanting to surrender the first goal.
Late in the period Barrie would get on the board first when a hard shot from the top of the circle beat the North
Central netminder. The period ended with Barrie up by a score of 1-0.
The intensity increased in the second period and had both teams battling hard and taking penalties. Before the end of the period North Central scored 2 power play goals and took a slim 2-1 lead into the 3rd. Early in the 3rd period the Predators increased their lead to 3-1 when a deflected puck found the back of the Colts net. A determined Barrie Colts team continued to play hard and quickly scored a goal of their own to get back to within 1 goal of the Predators. A late North Central penalty put the Colts on the power-play and they made no mistake in tying the game.
The final buzzer sounded and the game ended with the score North Central Predators 3 Barrie Colts 3. As a regular season league game the score of 3-3 would be official but the Start Talking Cup needed a victor so the home for the Cup for the next year would be decided by a shootout. North Central and Barrie both scored with the first pair of shooters. Barrie would take the shootout lead when they scored on their second shot and the Barrie goalie denied North Central. The final North Central shooter needed to score to keep the Predators Cup hopes alive. It was not to be for the Predators, as the Barrie Colts took home the Victory and the Start Talking Cup with the shootout win.
The Kelsey's Orillia North Central Predators would like to congratulate the Barrie Colts on their victory and extend their gratitude to the Colts and the many volunteers for hosting such a memorable event.
The Predators will be back in action at home at the Rama MASK on Saturday Jan 23rd at 7:15 when they host the Richmond Hill Coyotes.
Written by Doug Sweeney