Special teams carry Stampeders

  Parkside edges East Elgin, 6-5, in a shootout, to advance in playoffs

Monday, February 12, 2018

By Rob J. Ross 

ST. THOMAS - Overcoming a two goal deficit, special teams and Eric Ronayne, has the Parkside Stampeders moving on in boys hockey playoffs.

Ronayne scored in the fourth round of a shootout, giving the Stampeders a 6-5 win and a two games to none victory, over the East Elgin Eagles, in the Thames Valley Regional Athletics South-East quarterfinal, at Memorial Arena.

"Special teams were important for us. It was an interesting game in terms of a momentum standpoint. Each team seemed to get things going for a moment and then the other team would bounce back," Parkside coach Jamie Fife said. "Power play was important. We got guys in front of the net and capitalized on some of those garbage goals, especially the 5-5 one. We had a guy out front and he whacked at it a couple times."

Parkside opened the scoring early first period, before the Eagles responded with three goals, for a 3-1 advantage. The Stampeders pulled to within a goal, before the Eagles regain a two goal lead.

In the third period, Parkside scored with the man advantage and while short-handed, tying the game at four.  The Eagles regained the lead on the same power play, which they given up the shorty. The Stampeders sent the game to overtime, scoring with 1:37 remaining in the third period.

"The guys showed some character to keep battling and come back to take it to overtime. In the shootout anything can happen," Fife said. "We felt we were pushing the play for the first bit of the third period and that short-handed goal was really energy boosting. It was a highlight reel goal too. The guys were pumped about it."

Devin Robison, with goals, Ethan Bradley and Pete Vanderwyst, with the shorthanded tally, scored for Parkside.

Nick Sporbeck and S Conway, with two goals and an assist each and C Mantel, produced for East Elgin.

Parkside enjoyed five power plays to three for East Elgin.

"We had to kill a lot of penalties which isn't normal for our team. That is by far the most minor penalties we have had in a game this season," Eagles coach Chris Wismer said. "Their power play was the difference in the series. They scored one in the first game and three tonight. When people put us in the box against a team like that, we're in trouble."

The Eagles had Parkside in touble with a power play in the opening minutes of overtime, but failed to take advantage.

"We had a couple chances and their goalie made a couple nice saves," Wismer added.  "That seemed to be our opportunity lost.

Parkside move to the South-East semi-finals.

In the other quarters, Glencoe leads West Elgin, one game to none. Glendale is playing Ingersoll, while Woodstock College Ave takes on Woodstock Huron Park.

The top 1A and 2A teams will advance to their respective WOSSAA tournaments.