EXCELSIORS EVENTUALLY DOMINATE AGAIN
by thistles forever - Game #52
BRAMPTON - Tonight Brooklin came to play but in the end it did not
matter. Their "fair weather" players collapsed in the face of
increased Brampton intensity and were embarrassed 12-7.
The home team did not make an intense start. They were back on their
heels the first fifteen minutes, outshot 13-3, and only the stellar
goaltending of Bob Watson kept them in it. The redmen did score twice:
randon Sanderson in the opening minute and Brad MacArthur before the 3
minute mark. They should have had more as they were flying up and down
the floor. Bob Watson would have none of it. His teammates got one
back before the end of the period. Jim Veltman won the loose ball,
what else is new? and set up Mike Accursi, who picked the top corner.
The second period may be remembered as the series breaker. Brooklin
began with high hopes but they crumbled before the twenty minutes
ticked away. Darcy Sweet tied it one minute in. Then Shawn Williams
stepped up. He scored on a breakaway and, two minutes later, added a
remarkable one handed shot. 4-2 Redmen but they had peaked. Ninety
seconds later the defending champs scored off the "Old Pick and Roll"
trick. Dan Teat set it, rolled into the open, took a pass from Sweet,
and buried it. The Redmen defence fell for it Big Time! The turning
point came on two penalties for the visitors. First Glenn Clark was
sent to the box. One man down, Brooklin could handle but the second
penalty would mean disaster. Cam Woods was checked into the boards by
the Brampton bench and took a swing at a player. Two minutes for
roughing. Perhaps a bit cheap under the circumstances, however it was
called. And Brampton took full advantage by scoring two power play
goals. Accursi then Duey Jacobs to put the home team up 5-4. The last
ten minutes of the period were all Excelsiors. Ryan Sanderson scored
from outside. Rob Blasdell had played very well but this one got away
on him. Later Jacobs waltzed through the Redmen defence and it was
7-4. Shawn Williams concluded the scoring with an outside shot.
The last twenty minutes were a disappointment for Brooklin. They
continued to pepper Bob Watson with shots but earned nothing for their
troubles. Rob Blasdell's game, however, went downhill. He was caught
out of net and Dan Teat scored on him, shorthanded! Nick Trudeau got
it back as he caught Watson deep in his net. It was soon 9-6, then
10-6. To add insult to injury, Steve Toll missed an open net. It was
all over, except for the late game brawl. Redmen frustration was high
and was threatening to blow. Luckily we avoided the big fight but the
clubs may have given us a preview for Monday night.
It began with just over 50 seconds remaining. Steve Fannell and Doug
Trudeau mixed it up in the corner. On his way to the bench Trudeau
took a two hander on his back from Chris Driscoll. The Brooklin bench
erupted and Tim Burke, Scott MacDonell and Ken Millen led the
Brooklin players off the bench. There were no fights but lots of
talking, finger and stick pointing. Burke marched up and down in
front of the Excelsior bench giving his version of Hamlet's Soliloquy.
How nothing blew up is beyond me. Then the referees took the captains
across the floor to discuss penalties. As this was going on, the two
teams had a staring contest. The face off occurred between the two
benches. I have no idea what was being said, though there was plenty
of talk. Terry Sanderson was yapping away and at one point Peter
Vipond became infuriated and jumped onto the floor momentarily.
Finally something happened. Brooklin assistant coach Mark Evans
reached across to the Brampton bench, grabbed Fannell's face mask and
yanked his helmet of. Remarkably thing did not blow up. We'll see
what happens Monday.
On a brighter note: Pat O'Toole stayed on the floor 30 minutes after
the game to tend goal for the youngsters. The way Bob watson is
playing Paddy must do whatever he can to get work.
***ENDNOTE: Larry's Driver informed me that Mike Powelll was traded to Peterborough and that Tim Burke put on the show in front of Brampton's bench. All these goons look alike to me...lol!
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