Minor bantam Knights frustrated by Innisfil foes

The NobleKing minor bantam Knights started their first series of post-season play Jan. 13, working to prove that they should move on to the OHMA division.

In this series, the Knights drew the Innisfil Eagles for opponents. The Eagles, who ended up placing third in regular season play, were a team that would prove to be difficult to defeat.

In first period of the opening game was scoreless, but early in the second, the Eagles scored the first goal of the series. Five minutes later, the Knights responded with a breakaway goal from forward Michael Noblegreen. The Eagles scored again in the second to take the 2-1 lead, and in the third there were two more goals against the Knights, who were only able to muster up one more goal while on a two-man advantage, compliments of Thomas Martin. The game ended 4-2 in favor of the Eagles. Good goal tending by Ben Rossetto kept the Knights in the game and their hopes alive all three periods.

The second game of the series was at King City Arena, and it was filled with action. Those who came out to watch were treated by some dominating play by the Knights.

The forward line of Martin, Mussato and Perruzza were on fire and scored the first two goals of the game. The first was scored by Marco Mussato off a nice pass from Mathew Perruzza, and the second goal was scored by Martin, who had won the face off and buried one in the Eagles' net. Early in the third, a combined effort from Christine Shortill and Martin gave the Knights a 3- 0 lead.

The last goal of the game for the Knights was scored by Martin again, off a nice backhander while short handed. The Knights ended up winning 4-2 and tied the series at one game apiece. Great goal tending was provided by John Salome to secure the win.

The Knights were back up to Innisfil for the third game, but lost after a bad second period when the Eagles scored four times. The Knights' lone goal of the game came from Perruzza in the third period.

The series' fourth match was back in the Knights' home arena in Nobleton, and what a game it was! The Eagles started off the scoring in the first, but early in the second Perruzza worked his way around the back of the net and found Martin out front to tie things up. The Eagles responded with their second of the night, but that lead wouldn't last long, as Martin's pass found Perruzza this time, and he hammered one in to tie things up. Martin scored again in the second, with only minutes on the clock, but the Eagles would respond with another to tie the game at three apiece.

The third period was full of opportunities for the Knights and the Eagles, but in the last minute of the game Perruzza found Noblegreen's stick off a beautiful pass in front of the Innisfil goalie and Noblegreen one timed it off his backhand. The crowd went crazy.

The Knights won by a score of 4-3. Ben Rossetto stood on his head between the pipes and helped NobleKing tie the series at two games a piece.

Game five was played at the Nottawasaga ice complex and ended up being a fantastic game to watch. Goal tender John Salome played very all game to keep the Knights in it, but in the last minute of play, down by one and with the Knights goalie pulled the Eagles put one in the empty net and ended the best-of-five series in three games.

The coaching staff and parents were very proud of how well the boys played the series, and congratulations and good luck go out as the Knights head into the York-Simcoe playoff series, with hopes to bring home the championship to NobleKing.