Playoff Victory a Postive Sign for the Future of Program.
Your North Central Predator Major Atom team sponsored by Crothers Twin Lakes Marina continued to redefine expectations successfully completing their first ever playoff series this past weekend at home versus the Ajax-Pickering Raiders.
It took five games to finish off a very evenly matched and hungry squad from APR but in the end the our Preds proved to be too much to handle.
The series opener was a sign of the struggle to come needing overtime to win the game. In the end, quick passing and fantastic play in front of the net by Luca Paron, who tipped a point shot for a 3-2 victory, got this first year team off to the start they wanted with a win.
“This was a team effort” said Coach Dale Shannon after the game. “The boys came to play as a unit and really focused on the little things that matter like winning battles, moving the puck, and getting traffic in front of the net. I’m certainly proud of the character and fortitude they all showed.”
What proved to be a series dominated by the home team APR took games 2 and 4 outscoring the Preds 6 - 2. In game 3, the Preds showed a lot of promise for the future of this 2006 age group as they appeared to be unstoppable. They skated with purpose and pressured the puck when they did not have possession. Passing amongst their teammates created scoring opportunity after scoring opportunity. In the end, the complete effort and some solid goaltending landed them a 5 - 1 victory.
Game 5 was a battle. The season was over for whoever lost. At the end of two periods the game was still scoreless with both teams trading chances and fighting hard. It was in the 3rd period where the very short benched Preds (down 3 players due to injury) found another gear. The boys came out flying and after 3 clean, quick passes to gain the offences zone Ethan Procyszyn snapped a shot that happened so fast many in the building, including the APR goalie who was riding a 65-minute shutout streak, completely missed. From that moment on there was no stopping your North Central Predator Major Atom team who went on to a 4-1 victory and claim the series.
This week the Crothers Twin Lakes Marina Major Atom North Central Predators will continue their playoff drive against Richmond Hill and Barrie for a chance at the finals. It will certainly prove to be a tough battle but with the growth exhibited, passion to succeed, and team first attitude displayed recently, no one can count this team out!