Feb 22, 2023 | Jeff Steinbach | 261 views
Playoffs Update
Caledonia U11 Team 1 has continued riding its hot streak through the middle portion of the playoff schedule...
On Sunday, January 29, Caledonia hosted Glanbrook Team 4 for the 2nd half of their back-to-back games. Caledonia came out of the gates on fire, notching 3 goals in the first period. Goals were scored by Zach A, James G, and Noah K (assist by James G). From there, Caledonia played a solid two-way game, with goalie Davin S making a couple key saves to keep the lead intact. While Glanbrook would score a couple goals in the 2nd, the defence of Blake L, Nate C, Molly F, Drew G, Nixon Y, and Teddy B would shut down any more offence in the 3rd. Chase W also added a goal to give Caledonia the 4-2 victory.
On February 11, Caledonia hosted Cayuga in their next playoff matchup. Cayuga opened the scoring early, but Caledonia immediately responded. Zach A and Noah K would score goals to give Caledonia the 2-1 lead after one period of play. Cayuga would even the score early in the 2nd, before James G once again gave the Thunder the lead going into the 3rd period of play with his 4th goal of the playoffs. In the 3rd, Noah K would score what would be the game-winning goal a minute into the period. While Cayuga would respond with one more goal, goalie Jaxon C shut the door from there, making several key stops. Chase W would add a goal in the 3rd, his 6th of the playoffs. Violet E would tap home another goal for the Thunder, her first on the season, the crowd erupting into a big cheer, giving Caledonia the 6-3 victory.
On February 12, Caledonia would host Hagersville for the first of their back-to-back playoff games. Wingers Layton H and Fletcher F came out of the gates on fire, with Layton H and Zach A assisting Fletcher F on his first playoff goal. Despite a couple of bad bounces in the first that would give Hagersville a couple goals, Caledonia worked hard to respond in the 2nd. This time, James G would collect an assist with Fletcher F, as Fletcher F set up Layton H for a goal right in front of the net to tie the game. Caledonia's defence of Blake L, Teddy B, Molly F, Nate C, Nixon Y, and Drew G once again played a tremendous game, working with goalie Davin S to shut down any more Hagersville offence the rest of the game. Chase W would score 2 goals (assist to Nate C), including a great breakaway goal in the top corner, to give Caledonia the 4-2 victory.
On February 18, Caledonia would travel to Hagersville. It was deja vu all over again for the Thunder, with a bad bounce off their own defenceman would once again give Hagersville the lead after one period of play. Caledonia's defence and goalie Jaxon C would dig in at that point, shutting down the Hawks offence, while Caledonia got a couple key goals the rest of the way. James G (assist Noah K) would tie the game in the 2nd, the score 1-1 after two periods of play. In the 3rd, after serving a tough two minute tripping penalty, Noah K found James G stepping out of the penalty box with a pass, James going in to score on a breakaway to give the Thunder the lead. With 10 seconds left, Drew G assisted Fletcher F who buried the empty-netter, giving Caledonia the 3-1 victory and leaving them 5-0-1 in the playoffs so far.
The Thunder are looking forward to their tournament in Lefroy this weekend, and the last two playoff round robin games against Glanbrook Blue and Cayuga in early March.