October 12, 2006... TIGERS EARN THEIR STRIPES AGAINST CHAMPS

The much anticipated meeting with the Mississauga Jets took place at Iceland on Thursday night. The Streetsville Tigers coming off a successful weekend in Whitby hoped to bring their “game” to regular season play and so why not against the league leading Jets.

As usual the Tigers took some early penalties in the 1st period, giving the Jets an early man advantage. Connor Clark was stellar in the goal stopping all shots directed to him by the Jets snipers. No doubt frustration was setting in as Clark shut them down effectively. The Tigers killed off back to back penalties despite being without their penalty killing specialist, Adam Galbraith. As the period was coming to an end the Tigers took double minors, giving the Jets the 2 man advantage. The Jets moved the puck around effectively and with only 1 minute remaining in the period the Jets scored the 1st goal of the game. From in close the Jets forward wristed a low hard shot to the short side. Jets ended the period in the lead 1-0.

The 2nd period was an exciting affair with both goaltenders making spectacular saves. The Tigers continued to bring their workman like work ethic, fore-checking tenaciously, finishing their checks and moving the puck forward effectively. The 2nd period ended as it started 1-0 Jets.

In the 3rd period the Tigers started shorthanded but less than 1 minute into the final tilt, Jace McGrath hustled into the Jets zone chasing after the loose puck. After retrieving the puck he wrapped the puck from behind net with surgeon like precision and scored the tying goal for the Tigers. As has been the trend so far this season the Tigers played with confidence in the 3rd period grinding down their opponents with out even a thought of being “tired”. Is it possible they actually get stronger…absolutely!!!

There was one scare with 6 minutes to go when the Jets fired the puck in and it was deflected into the net, but the play was blown down as offside. The Tigers continued to press in the Jets zone when with 4 minutes left the puck was dropped back to defenseman Sean Corvetti slapped a high hard shot that Al MacInnis would have been proud of. Now the Tigers were in the driver’s seat. With 3 minutes left the Jets hit the post. The Tigers supporters in the stands could be heard chanting “I think I can…I think I can” from the classic The Little Engine That Could. There is no doubt however that Coach Mike Canavan was chanting a different tune as the Tigers prepared to finish off the Jets but like true champions they would not be denied. After killing off a penalty in the final 2 minutes the Jets entered the Tigers end in “Wing Formation” and executed their strike with perfection resulting in them tying the game with only 32 seconds left.

The game ended in a 2-2 tie. The Tigers left the ice proud of their effort and despite a lapse in the final minute there was a real sense of accomplishment. The Tigers paid the price and supported each other with a huge team effort. Fans from the Jets team commented that they “were out worked this evening” and the Tigers definitely maintained their intensity right through to the final buzzer, conditioning was a factor.

Now the Tigers prepare for a return game with the Toronto Royals on Tuesday.

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