April 18, 2024 · 0 Comments
By Brian Lockhart
The Hornets are trailing 2-1 in their Conference championship series against the Hanover Barons after losing the first two games but rebounding with a win in game three.
Game one of the series got underway in Alliston on Friday, April 12.
That game was a huge disappointment for the Alliston fans when the Hornets were outplayed for the entire game.
After tying 1-1 in the first, and no scoring in the second, the Barons hammered the Alliston team with four unanswered goals to take a 5-1 win.
Things didn’t get any better in game two when the Hornets travelled to Hanover.
The Hornets failed to score a single goal and were shut out 5-0 to give Hanover a 2-0 series lead.
The teams returned to Alliston for an afternoon game on Sunday, April 14.
This time, the Hornets looked like a totally different team. They dominated the ice in the first period, although neither team could score.
Alliston forward, Jaeden French, opened the scoring at 3:09 into the second period.
French got his second of the game at 6:52 in the third period.
The Barons scored just under two minutes later.
The Alliston team went on defence for the remaining minutes of the third for a 2-1 win.
“We were a completely different team tonight,” said Hornets head coach Jacob Bauchman after the game. “If we played the way we did in the first two games, we may have not even made it this far. It was a completely different team. They bought into our systems, they were more coachable today. They worked hard and they stuck to their game plan. They were physical. That team [Hanover] doesn’t like to get physical. That first period, we took them off their game – we took it to the physical. They don’t like that. They are quick and move the puck well. We adjusted our systems in the neutral zone and our D-zone coverage. We took away, what has been successful for them this season. We’re happy with today.”
Bauchman said that they would continue with the same system for the next game as it is working.
Game four of the series took place at the P and H Centre in Hanover on Wednesday, April 17, with an 8 p.m. start. Results were not available prior to press time.
Game five will be in Alliston on Friday, April 19.
Game time is 7:30 p.m.