The Red Wings dug themselves a large hole in game five with a 3-0 deficit at the end of the first. Andrew Buck opened the scoring for Newmarket just after the eight minute mark as the puck deflected past Rob Behling off a Wings' defender's skate. Kevin Balas poked home a rebound close in just after the expiration of a Wings minor penalty. Three minutes later Jamie Wise connected on a powerplay goal off a scramble and the visitors looked to be more than off and running.
Hamilton came back just after six minutes into the second as Brant McGrail forced the puck past Jason Guy as they were enjoying a two-man advantage. Comic relief after the goal as someone tossed an octopus on to the ice and it landed in front of the Wings bench. No-one wanted to touch it so Joey Anstett of the Hurricanes took of his glove, picked it up and tossed it off the ice and into the home bench for which he was given a ten minute misconduct for his co-operation! The visitors restored their three goal bulge on a powerplay courtesy Julian Melchiori. The Wings had just survived a two-man disadvantage but the blueliner scored with his team one up. With just over five minutes left in the period Nathan Pageau sped down the left side and found Anthony Ruberto who beat Guy in close. This came just after the Wings had a powerplay goal disallowed because the puck was gloved into the net.
Pageau gave the home fans some hope as he narrowed the score to 4-3 early in the second on a nifty backhander. It was short lived, however, as Balas was the triggerman on a Hurricanes powerplay to get back their two goal lead. The Wings threw everything they could at Newmarket for the last half of the period but full marks to the visitors for a super defensive showing. With the goalie out Jonathan Pietramala put the icing on the cake for the 6-3 win.
So a disappointing ending to a season that promised so much before Christmas but the Wings gave it a solid effort tonight but it was not enough against a determined Newmarket squad. No point in going through the 'what ifs'..good luck to the Hurricanes for the rest of the way.
And..not to use this as an excuse at all.. but the refereeing tandem of Bain and Munroe was the worst I have seen at the Dave this season.
Good luck to 'graduates' Mike Ball, Bruce Crawford, Josh Vella and Brent McGrail in whatever their future endeavours might be.
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Did Hamilton ever lose a game this season that it wasn't the referee's fault?
I to was fooled into thinking that the Red Wings would walk away with the Central, however as it became more apparent that they had problems with prima donna players, sub par goaltending and minor hockey coaching the final outcome was only a matter of time.
Don't blame their performance on the referees, look to the team and coaching as their "waterloo" in the end.
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Congratulations to Hamilton forward Anthony Ruberto who was the recipient of the R.B.C scholarship for the 2008-02009 season. He gets a $1,000 OJHL scholarship and becomes eligible for the national $5,000 award.
He's not been doing too shabbily on the ice either as in four seasons with the Red Wings he has accumulated a total of 162 points and he still has a year of eligibility remaining.
Good luck, Anthony.
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