Waxers were the better team last night in St.Mike's as they came away with a 4-3 win to take an early 1-0 lead in the series. It was a very clean game with both teams focussed on hockey and none of the crap transpired that were used to seeing between these two clubs. In the first two periods the Waxers held an edge (however little it seemed) in play and the score and shots on goal demonstrated that. In the 3rd the Waxers sat back and watched the shots against pile up. Most of those shots were from the top of the circle and could not have been considered scoring chances. At 14:48 Bryan Potcco scored a beautiful goal on a wrap around which came off a defensive miscue to allow St.Mike's with in two goals. In the final minute they were able to add another goalie off of a point shot that found it's way through and in. To my memory with 29 seconds left the buzzers did not manage another shot.


Strong played game for the Waxers as they played without Kevin Hude, Micheal Scheu and Michael Catanacci, but still came out with the victory. Although they won I think their tactics were alittle premature and the team needed to go in for the kill at the start of the 3rd period. Of course, I'm just a fan and the Waxers won, so what do I know :-D.

Game two goes Monday.

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Gershon was pulled at 16:13 of the 2nd period after letting up a really weak goal from the face off circle.


At 2:11 of the 2nd period Buzzers had a goal called off as Murray Free drove his check into the net knocking it off before it went in.

That's all I got for game 1.

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lets here your thoughts? even the hecklers behind the bench!

Its good to hear (not 'here') a Waxers fan point out that it was Free who drove in his check. As it wasn't a St Mikes player ... the goal should have counted. Munroe is always so inconsistant in his calls. I'm not claiming bias ... he called inconsistantly against both teams all night. I'd swear he loses his whistle in his pants pocket for 5 or 10 minutes and then makes up for it later when his hand finds it.

Free was funny when he twice tried to goad Rory Smith to take a penalty during a face off. And then just drew one himself. That however showed the weakness of the Buzzers ... they couldn't capitalize on power plays.

I wonder ... was it Smith's presence that helped lead to a generally well behaved Waxer team?

Both teams were well behaved. The Waxers have played that way all post season, so don't be surprised if they stick to the plan. They played the same way in the regular season when they beat the Buzzers after the massacre. As they say it takes two to tango.

I don't know if that goal should have counted as I was at the other end of the rink, but Free definately hooked/ interfered with the Buzzer player and they both went into the net. It would have been a tough call to give that goal under any circumstances. Munroe showed his inconsistency on Free's penalty. Interesting call in my eyes.

Did you also notice the lack of players being tossed out of the draw? Seemed like the linesman were giving 2nd and 3rd chances to get it right.

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I wasn't at the game, but I do know that the disallowed goal was probably the correct call, only because it sounds like both a Waxer and Buzzer were both involved in dislodging the net, no matter whether Free caused it by finishing his check or not. Had it only been Free who dislodged the net, while a shot was being taken, the ref would have the discretion to allow the goal (even if the net was off before the puck went in), or to disallow and give a penalty to Free. The referee can allow the goal if he feels that only a defending player was involved in removing the net, unless he blows the whistle for the net before the puck goes in.

What if the puck was in before the net was disloged? The Rogers commentators showed the event about three times and never really came to a conclusion. The linesman up the left wing was indicating a goal. Munroe was near the blueline during the event skated down to the net and waived it off. Never consulted the liney signaling the puck in net. It was also Zanetti and Oakley running in to the goal both of them getting a good piece of the bar. The Rogers commentators mangled Zanetti's name about three times too before getting it right.

Nice hair on Free though. Exact same style as coach Cornacchia. Bald on top, hair on the sides and back. Inverse hawk love it.

I think it probably was the right call simply to save his face. He probably didn't see the whole thing so rather that allow a goal ... go with the fact the net got dislodged before the puck was put in.

A sharper ref might have called it a goal if he felt that Free interfered in a way to kill a goal. But then, we aren't talking about Monroe are we?

Either way ... as a fan of the game I'd never call for that sort of goal to decide a game. Fact is ... the Buzz let in some stupid goals in the second and because they couldn't regain ground they get the loss.

Fact: The Buzzers need to find the same midseason form they had when they could have taken any team in the OPJHL. At one point it was like coming into the office for a regular day's work. Right now, they are squeezing the stick too much. And Markham has re-found their season's earlier form when they went unbeaten (until they met the Buzz). I'm not sure The Buzzers can do it. Without Miller they lack some Veteran strength of character. But ... as with last year's tilt between these two, nothing is finished until one team owns four.

Oh to be filled with 20 year olds ....

But this team doesn't buy Trophies the way some try to. (To be fair ... neither does Markham)