Kings Finish Strong Heading into the Final Games, News, PW3, LL, 2014-2015 (Caledonia Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2014-2015 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Mar 02, 2015 | Jennifer Pain | 656 views
Kings Finish Strong Heading into the Final Games
The Kings rallied a loss, a tie and a win in one of their final weeks of round robin action in Local League PW Group A playoffs.

The Kings faced the dreaded Glanbrook Kings, in the even MORE dreaded Glanbrook arena last Wednesday evening. The Kings were cool and confident, as were the fans. And our plan worked perfectly....although the Kings came out just short of the victory, they emerged with fire in their eyes and confidence in their hearts. The Kings played hard, and matched the Glanbrook team with intensity....in fact, dominating this team for much of the game. ​With most of the game being played in Glanbrook's end, the Kings learned that they can keep up with this team heading into the most important games of this season.

Scoring started early for Glanbrook and they managed to net 2 goals before the Kings replied. Late in the first period Zach Archibald came screaming into the Glanbrook end, fresh off the bench, to find a juicy Liam Rabbat rebound and bury it behind the Glanbrook goalie. Glanbrook replied quickly in the 2nd to go up 3-1, but shortly after Liam found the net himself, supported by Mason Allemang and Ty Mac. With fresh confidence, the team bullied Glanbrook for the rest of the game, and peppered shots left and right (unfortunately not all of them hitting the net). The Kings ATE THEM UP in the 2nd period, and headed into the 3rd period down 3-2.

The Glanbrook team scored midway through the 3rd period, and the game finished with a 4-2 final. The Kings fans, though wild during the game, left the building happy and satisfied - it was a proud moment as the development of this team was never more pronounced than it was that night. This team is the one to watch!

The Kings headed into the weekend with a game against the PW5 rivals on Saturday morning. After a scoreless first period the PW5 team struck first early in the 2nd period. Fifteen seconds later, Kyle Arnold launched one of his trademark flip shots which surprised the goalie and sailed over his shoulder and into the back of the net (assisted by Brayden Pauls in his best game of the season!).  Scoring in the second period was far from over, though! The PW5 team scored near the 4 minute mark to jump ahead 2-1. ​Twenty seconds later, Pauls tapped an airborne puck into the net for his second point of the contest (assisted by Mason Allemang and Dylan Kay, who also played his best of the season). The PW5 team struck late in the 2nd to jump ahead 3-2. After a scoreless third period, and in the dying seconds of the contest, Coach Hine pulled a risky move and called goalie Josh Cybulski to the bench for the extra attacker. The Kings were successful in keeping the puck in the PW5 end, and with 53 seconds left Connor "Cheeseburger" Lagan tapped in the tying goal (and, with his third point of the game, Pauls added an assist). The Kings managed to keep the puck in the neutral zone for the remainder of the contest and emerged with a fantastic and thrilling tie. We'll take that point!

Finally, the Kings met the feisty, and much improved, Hagersville team on Sunday afternoon.  The Kings appeared a bit weary and discombobulated for much of the contest, and the Hagersville team worked hard to outplay the home team. They managed to strike first in the game, scoring midway through the first period. The Kings were not able to get on the board until late in the second period, with Brayden Pauls tossing in the first goal, assisted by Liam Rabbat.  The teams headed into the third and final period, all tied up at 1. The Hawks scored first in the 3rd to jump ahead, but they were quickly reined in with a goal from an IMPOSSIBLE angle by Kieran Lagan (thanks to the magic pills for this goal!!). The brothers Lagan were a dominant force in this contest, as the elder Lagan was assisted by his brother, Cheeseburger as well as Zach Archibald. Tied at 2, the contest was evenly played for exactly one minute....at which point Archibald quietly and humbly stuck one past the goalie to jump ahead 3-2. Archibald had spent much of the contest creating great opportunities and passing rockets in front of the net, so this was a well-deserved reward! The defense played hard and physically in this contest and emerged victorious to end the weekend with a huge two points. Sadly, the Kings' fans MAY have been outplayed for the first time this season - not sure we have ever been that entertaining or, shockingly, LOUD.....wow. That's all that can be said.

This weekend re-emphasized the fact that the Kings are very fortunate to have the best goalie in PW local league minding our net. Josh was the difference-maker in the victory against Hagersville! He stopped almost everything thrown at him, and there were a LOT of shots that headed his way! This week's activities also left the Kings, and their fans, energized and confident. Win or lose, there may never have been a finer team ever assembled in this community.

The Kings have their final two round-robin games this week, against Hagersville and PW5. Stay tuned for more thrilling Kings updates.
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