Submitted

An awesome start for the Smolen Family Dentistry and Highlander Highland Storm Midget team winning both games this weekend in the Ontario finals.

It began in Haliburton March 17 and the Highland Storm Midgets rocked the Dunnville Mudcats 6-3.

The next day the Midgets travelled to Dunnville for Game 2 of the finals and brought home a 2-0 shutout win. This gave the Storm an exciting 4-0 lead in points.

The third year first line steered by team captain Owen Patterson-Smith tremendously rose to the challenge and constantly shook the Mudcats in Game 1. Patterson-Smith nabbed a hat-trick and two assists along with Owen Smith and Boice with a goal and an assist each.
The Midgets took the first period to warm up and entertain the packed Haliburton arena. It was a tight start with lots of back and forth extremely aggressive action.

The adrenaline increased and the scoring began in the second period when the Storm took a 2-0 lead. The Mudcats closed the gap to 2-1 with a power play goal ending the second.
Early in the third period Jacob Haedicke fed Patterson-Smith and he easily slipped it in for the Storm’s third goal.

The Mudcats got lucky and surprised the Storm with a short-handed goal making it a 3-2 game. It was time … the Storm turn up the heat with two quick goals.

The magic trio patiently played around the net Boice found the right time to make it a 4-2 game. Shortly after Lucas Haedicke dangled in by the net made a quick pass to Gilbert who sniped it in. Later in the third the Mudcats pulled their goalie during a power play and made it 5-3.

Both teams continued to push Smolen was outstanding in net and made countless saves for the Storm. Patterson-Smith got his hat-trick and finished things off with an open-netter.
A well-earned 6-3 win for the Storm Midget team.

The next day March 18 the Midgets travelled to Dunnville for Game 2.

It was an exciting fast-paced start with a scoreless first period. The action picked up in the second period with both teams working hard to score. Late in the period it was the Storm’s magic trio that worked the puck around the net give and go action from Patterson-Smith and Owen Smith found Boice and his keen eye saw the opening for the first goal.

The end-to-end battle continued well into the third period. With a minute left it was time to pull the goalie Mudcats hoping for a tie. Patterson-Smith intercepted the puck made it toward the empty net and successfully secured the win with a goal. A tremendous effort by the entire Storm team Smolen stood strong in net earning a shut-out and they returned home with a 2-0 win and lead in the series.

Submitted by Suzanne Haedicke