Oct 13, 2013 | Ccowan | 1278 views
Atom Rep Jr Rockets Remain Undefeated
The Strathroy Atom Rep Jr. Rockets won back to back games last weekend and tied on Wednesday to bring their undefeated streak to 7 games, with a 5-0-2 record to start the season.
The Mt Brydges Cougars were at the Gemini Friday night to face The Rockets in their home opener. With an energetic crowd on hand, The Rockets came out strong in the 1st, outshooting The Cougars 9-1. Dylan White picked up the first goal of the game with his aggressive play in front of the net. Easton Cowan and Noah Williams drew assists on the goal and The Rockets took a 1-0 lead into the 2nd.
The Rockets continued to work hard and controlled the game in the 2nd period but both teams were held scoreless. Rockets’ goaltender, Lukas Brants, was steady as usual, turning away all 5 shots he faced in the period.
In the 3rd period, the Rockets broke loose and notched 3 more goals. On the first shift, off the cycle, Mark Hewitt got the puck to Jayden Kinchen behind the net, who fed it out front to Logan Parker. Parker then fired one past the goalie with a quick release. A minute later, off the cycle again, Lucas Van Heeswky found some space out front and buried one into the back of the net to give his team a 3-0 lead. Clayton Derbyshire and White picked up the assists. Parker closed the scoring with his 2nd of the game, as Kinchen and Rowan Dortmans tallied assists to make it 4-0, which would be the final. The Rockets Defense crew of Derbishire, Dortmans, JT Hodgins, Bradley Van Heeswyk and Williams were very strong and supported each other all night to help their goalie, Brants, earn his 3rd shut-out in as many games to start the season.
Saturday afternoon, the Rockets travelled to Wallaceburg, looking to pick up 2 more points. Griffen Urquhart was very sharp in net as he made a big-time breakaway save early in the game to keep the score locked at 0-0. This got momentum going in the Rockets favour and they never looked back. About a minute later, Hewitt opened the scoring with Parker and L Van Heeswyk picking up the assists. A couple shifts after that, Parker buried one past the tender, with Ashton Peters getting the assist. Cowan then put another past the goalie to give his team a 3-0 lead after 1.
Both teams found the back of the net twice in the 2nd. Wallaceburg scored early to bring them within 2 but Peters answered back quickly, sniping one up top where they keep the peanut butter, to make it 4-1. Logan Parker and Parker Andersson assisted on the goal. Cowan notched his 2nd of the game as he broke loose for a breakaway, kept his head up and made a nice deke, to make the score 5-2, which would be the final. Dortmans finished the game +4, leading The Rockets defense and goaltending to another solid performance, allowing just 2 goals on 14 shots.
Wednesday night, the boys travelled to St Marys, where they faced a tight checking opponent, who had only given up 2 goals in 2 games to start their season. A school week filled with Cross Country meets and training seemed to take some jump out of the boys’ legs as they weren't able to get much going their way all night. Brants was a brick wall in net though, holding his team in the game and allowing just 1 goal on the 17 shots he faced.
The Rockets grinded it out and found themselves down 1-0 after 2 periods. About midway through the 3rd, Hewitt fed a pass up the wing to Cowan who used his speed to drive wide into the zone. Cowan then dished a pass out front to Andersson who showed great patience, making a nifty move on the goalie, before burying the tying goal into a yawning cage. That was how it ended as both teams picked up a point in a 1-1 tie.
The Rockets are back in action at the Gemini Friday, October 18th, to face the East Lambton Eagles. Come on out to enjoy the show and support your hardworking Strathroy Atom Rep Jr. Rockets.