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Petrolia, ON -
The 2011 Petrolia Midget Silver Stick hockey
tournament opened up on Boxing day, and it was a
local match up between the Mooretown Storm and
hometown Petrolia Oilers that headlined the first
nights games in the midget A division.
Troy
Whitely would score the only goal of the game on a
wrist shot in the slot to give the Oilers a 1-0
victory over the Storm, putting Mooretown in a
positions to be eliminated early from the double
elimination tournament.
"We played
a good defensive game," said Oilers coach Todd
Annett. "Discipline needs to get a little bit
better, but our defensive game is huge right now and
that is what is going to give us wins."
Petrolia
controlled the pace early, and held Mooretown to
limited opportunities. The Oilers themselves would
have a chance on a 5-on-3 power play, but the Storm
were able to kill it off in the first period.
In the
second with the teams on a 4-on-4, Whitely would
score the loan goal of the game. Mooretown would
again struggle to put an sustained pressure on the
Oilers, and walked out of the second period down by
one, and needing a spark.
In the
third, the Storm would get their chance on their own
5-on-3 power play, but Mooretown seemingly spent the
man advantage in their own end, unable to get any
sort of rush or attack going into the Oilers end
without the puck being cleared down the ice. By the
end of the third, the defensive style of Petrolia
simply wore down the Storm, and held on to the 1-0
victory.
"We
definitely controlled the defensive side of the game
tonight," said Annett. "We work hard offensively but
when we lose the puck we work hard to pick up men
coming back."
Mooretown
was happy with their performance and credit a bad
bounce to their loss and putting them on the wrong
side of the bracket early in the tournament.
"I thought
we played really well," said Mooretown Storm coach
Chris Dobbelaar. "A little defensive style and just
happened to get a bad bounce and they capitalized it
on the power play."
Despite
the low scoring game, Annett believes his team can
be successful even when playing defensivel.
"As long
as these guys stay focused and disciplined and play
their own game, and the other team doesn't get them
off their game we'll be fine."
Mooretown
plays Thursday night at 7pm, while Petrolia will
play Wednesday night at 9pm.
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