After a decisive 6-0 victory over the Bendale Tigers on Feb. 17, the RH King Academy Lions will go on to the TDSB East Region B Division hockey championship.
The game was lively and fast-paced, with quick turnovers and a handful of odd-man rushes. The Lions, who faced a depleted Tiger team, scored two goals in each of the three periods of play. Bendale played the entire game with only nine players.
“Today’s mentality is to just play a strong game – to the best of our ability,” Bendale Head Coach Steve Taylor said before the match. “We know we’re playing with a short bench today, so it will be a tough game for us. But it’s hockey – and that’s what it’s all about.”
The game got feisty in the last 10 minutes, with four of the five penalties called in the third period.
“It feels great. I feel like we played a good game.” RH King Academy Assistant Coach Brian Chetwynd said. “A little bit of a circus at the end, but it feels good to be moving on [to the finals].”
The Lions finished first in their division, never having lost a game in regulation, with a record of 5-0-1. The Tigers finished the season in fifth place, with a record of 2-4.
“To finish first – we’re pretty excited,” Chetwynd said. “The guys worked hard, but we’re trying to take it one game at a time.”
The final match will be played on Feb. 24 at Centennial Arena.
RH King Academy player, Gordie Goode #2, gets a shot off, while falling to the ice. Bendale’s Kullen Whalen # 19 defends. Ryan McBride #1, is in net.
RH King Academy Lions player takes a shot on net, with defending Bendale Tiger’s trying to block it.
RH King Academy forward, Tyler James #9, skates out from behind the net, to give a teammate a centering pass in front. Bendale defenseman, Vinny Chiaramida #17, takes away a passing lane, and forces King Academy to the other side of the net.
RH King Academy Lions triple team lone Bendale defender, Shaun Christian Datchlen #4.
Lion, Dallas Massey #91, skates out from behind the net with the puck. Tiger, Phillip Dunaway #11, goes to challenge him.
Bedale defenseman, Vinny Chiaramida #17, tightly defends against King Academy forward, Tyler James #9, in the corner.
Lions forward, Tyler James fights for possession of the puck against Tiger defenseman, Phillip Dunaway #11. King academy’s Connor Fischer #11, gets open for a pass.
Bendale forward, Chris Pearce #9, takes the puck into the offensive zone, against King Academy defenders, Paddy Daily #51, and Justin Iserhoff #7.
RH King Academy assistant captain, Landon McGhee #15, skates through two Bendale defenders.
King Academy’s Connor Fischer #11, breaks away from two Bendale defenders.
Bendale’s assistant captain, Ryan Burtt #8, wheels through the neutral zone. King Academy’s Fischer, chases him.
RH King Academy defenseman, Landon McGhee #15, deke’s out a Bendale forward.
Tiger’s Burtt #8, skates into the offensive zone, trying to beat a Lion’s defender.
Bendale forward, Chris Pearce #9, crosses the blue line, and winds up to rip a slap shot past two Lions defenders; Daily and Iserhoff.
Bendale forward, Chris Pearce #9, crosses the blue line, rips a slap shot past two Lions defenders; Daily and Iserhoff.
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