Minor peewee rep Knights lead Stouffville series 2-1
Submitted by NobleKing Minor Hockey

The NobleKing minor peewee rep Knights currently lead Stouffville two games to one in the opening round of the York- Simcoe rep hockey playoffs.

However, in the recent round robin seeding playdowns with East Gwillimbury and Richmond Hill, these Knights gained only one point in a tie with EG over the course of four games.

They finished third in this seed round and drew Stouffville who finished first in their opposite seed round, for their first regional playoff series. The Knights ranked eighth on the season in York Region and Stouffville finished one spot below them.

After three games in the current series, the Knights lead two games to one. However, both teams have scored nine goals so far. After winning the first two games 3-2 and 6-2, the Knights were unable to score in game three and lost 5-0 to the Clippers this past weekend. Goalie Stephen Sartor has been in net throughout this series, but coach Younker will have to decide if Sartor or Alex Marchese gets the nod for game four.

The boys were scheduled to play again Tuesday night in Nobleton (results not known at press time) and then tonight (Wednesday) in Stouffville if necessary. The winner of this series will play the winner of the East Gwillimbury and Markham series in the next round.

In the first game, the Knights pulled out a 3-2 victory with less than two minutes remaining on two goals by Dylan FitzGibbon and one from Steve Peressini with assists from Stefano Alonzi and Aaron Kimber. Zach Schofield nearly notched a fourth goal, but the buzzer went with the puck enroute to an empty net from inside the blue line, at the end of the game. Penalties at the Stouffville rink ran high with the Knights in the box seven times.

The Knights won a more convincing game two with a score of 6-2, including a hat trick by FitzGibbon plus an assist, and a three-point night by Alonzi with two goals and an assist. Luca Germinario scored the final goal and other assists came from Jesse Schneider, Kimber, Thomas Beretta and Braydon Jackson.

The third game in Stouffville was lopsided and the Knights did not score. They did take numerous penalties again and at one point had four players in the box. Couch Younker continued to adjust the lines, looking for optimum scoring power as Schofield centered Ryan Lankester and JR Venchiarutti while Andrew Begg and CF Sifton formed a strong defensive pair. Travis Brinovec continues on defense while Jackson stays on a wing. This exchange was made a few games back and seems to suit both players and the team.

Either way, every game counts, so Younker and assistant Jay Gagnon will have to keep this team of talented 11-year olds focused, to win the series and advance. Regular practices continue and player morale is positive so the outlook is good.