The OMHA Midget CC west championship continued with the Highland Storm and the Twin Centre Stars. The Storm team won the first two games. Game 3 was played in Wellesley Saturday March 23 and ended in a 3-3 tie.

The Twin Centre Stars came out strong knowing they cannot lose being down two games in the series. The Storm worked hard in the first however gave up a goal during a power play. The Storm stepped it up in the second period and took a 2-1 lead. Both goals resulted from Gilbert's determination. He owned the puck and fought through the Stars’ defence pulling the goalie's attention and then snapped passes to Smith and Clements minutes apart. Early in third period Haedicke took off at centre and manoeuvred nicely into the Stars’ end deked past the defence and backhanded in the next goal.

It was a 3-1 game for the Storm with 10 minutes left. The Stars knew it and increased the intensity the Storm buckled with penalties and it became a 3-3 game. The overtime was action packed and scoreless. Each team left with a point.

The next day home ice advantage wasn't enough in this "do or die" game for the Twin Centre Stars and the Storm was hushed 4-1.

Seconds into the first period the penalties began for the Storm team and continued throughout the game. The Stars took the lead in the first period while on a power play. Then picked up a couple more goals in the second period this quieted the Haliburton arena.

With less than a minute in the period Dollo shot a pass to Gilbert for a two-on-one rush. His keen eye saw the opening and he snapped it in ending the period 3-1.

With the third period ahead anything is possible. However the Storm kept their penalty box busy and allowed the Stars another goal and the 4-1 game. This puts the Storm team leading 5-3 in points heading into Game 5 of the finals.

The Storm Midgets will be travelling to Wellesley for Game 5 March 30 and a possible Game 6 in Haliburton March 31 – 2 p.m.

By Suzanne Haedicke