December 18, 2009. The Dunnville Terriers experienced the highs and lows in their attempt to establish themselves as a serious threat come playoff season.  The outcome of Friday’s and Sunday’s encounters with Caledonia and Glanbrook resembled total opposites much like Abbot and Costello, Jekyll and Hyde or a political flip flop.

Game #1 Caledonia at Dunnville

Though Caledonia carried the play with more offensive puck control, the actual scoring chances were fairly even.  The Terriers’ defensive partners were executing good passing and team play in their own zone.  They moved the disc with precision and confidence, enabling the forwards to garner some good scoring opportunities throughout the first period.  Dunnville scored first and ended the first period with a 1-0 lead.

Ryan Dear completed an excellent feed from Dan Minor with Jason Dear assisting as well.  The Terriers kill penalties very well, but seem to go dormant on their own powerplay.  Giftwrapped and shorthanded goals netted by the opposition when they should be on their heels defending, continue to plague the Terriers powerplay offense.

The Covairs took advantage of the Terrier powerplay mishap in the second and the score was tied at one apiece when Brent Lowry finished a play from Stefan Scione. Dunnville’s powerplay needed a two-man advantage to cash in for the 2-1 score.

Curtis Naylor put the Terriers ahead with help from Tanner McGowan and Tyler Gilbertson. Dunnville’s goalie Gilbertson saved the day several times allowing his team to comeback to notch another marker to spread the favour to Dunnville at 3-1 at the end of the second.

Chris Furneau did the damage from Connor Harvie and Dan Minor. Dunnville’s penalty killing and Gibertson’s closing the doorway to the net, salvaged the period for the Terriers. Dunnville began a march to the sinbin in the last part of the second period that continued on into the third.  Being caught shorthanded so often seemed to wear down the Terriers and give Caledonia the upperhand in controlling the play.

Gilbertson was brilliant and his strong play and effort helped the penalty killing units to stave off the Corvair attack.  The opposition eventually scored to close the gap to 3-2 on a powerplay goal by Anthony Scornaiechi with assists going to Kyle Draper and Tyler Kopacz.

On the same powerplay Dunnville turned the tables and scored a shorthanded tally of their own and salted the game away at 4-2 Duncan Minor intercepted a turnover on a miscue by the Corvairs netminder and put the game away for the Terriers.

Thirteen trips to the pen by Dunnville and nine for the Corvairs with several majors kept the juices to the rivalry flowing until next time.

Game #2 Dunnville at Glanbrook

There is not much to report other than Dunnville completed the flop side of the flip flop.  The penalty filled match ended up lopsided in the score and in the number of players left to finish the third period.  Dunnville’s bench was reduced to two players while Glanbrook had just nine skaters at the final whistle.  Dunnville was non existent as far as offense goes due to continued backpeddaling with a man short for the biggest part of the contest.

Glanbrook with strong skating and some slick play-making due to man advantages, dominated most of the game.  Dunnville applied both goaltenders but to no advantage as both seemed a bit off their game even though they were peppered pretty often with a barrage and variety of shots.

The final score to this Hyde-like match was a 9-1 trouncing in favor of Glanbrook.

By Dave Green, The Sachem


Tagged with: •

Filed under: News