ESSEX 73's junior hockey club

Series Knotted at 2-2 After 73's 4-1 Road Win

February 16, 2020

By: Garrett Fodor

24 hours after picking up their first one of the year against the Wheatley Sharks, the Essex 73’s hit the road to face the Wheatley Sharks for game four of the best-of-seven series.

Unlike the night prior in Essex, the 73’s were going to come from behind if they wanted to win. Just five minutes in, Drew Denomey capitalized on a Darcy Haupt turnover in the neutral zone and snapped a shot over Connor Meyerink to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead. The lead would stand heading into the intermission, as the Sharks also out shot the 73’s 16-9.

However Essex was not backing down. Instead, they increased the physicality and were throwing their weight around. Something the Sharks did not like. The Sharks took two penalties in the final seven minutes. And Riley Meyerink would make them pay. As the captain blasted a point shot high over Kyle Metson’s blocker to tie the game at 1. And closing out the frame, Jack Sanko made a shifty drop pass to Preston Corp who tucked the puck around Metson to give the 73’s their first lead of the game. 

In the third and final frame, Curtis Jackson would bang home a rebound and Quinn Fazekas would make the Sharks pay with the man advantage, as the 73’s would hold on to prevail 4-1. The shots in the game were 32-31 in favour of Essex.

With the series tied at 2 games a piece, it shifts back to Essex Tuesday night with the puck drop scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

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73's Cut Series Lead to 2-1 With Shutout Win

February 15, 2020

By: Garrett Fodor

After losing the previous seven contests against the Wheatley Sharks, the Essex 73’s were looking to end the streak and win game three of the best of seven series Feb. 15.

The game started with the Sharks throwing body weight around early, making several big hits on the 73’s forwards. But the 73’s got up and we’re quick to try to break the puck out and generate scoring chances. After 20 minutes the shots were even at 8. And the scoreboard also read 0-0, as Kyle Metson and Connor Meyerink both were unbeaten.

In the middle frame, the offense for both teams attempted to breakthrough the defensive walls. Both teams were quick to make quick breaks out of their defensive zones and get shots off in an effort to find twine. The first goal of the game came just over 12 minutes in. Karson Beuglet picked a Sharks pocket in the neutral zone and found a streaking Liam Hall who tucked the shot around a sprawl Metson to give the 73’s the lead. The Sharks would close the period with a bevy of offensive chances and as a result lead the shots 20-16 after 40 minutes.

In the final 20 minutes, the Sharks and 73’s both continued to use their speed and puck moving to try to increase the lead or draw even. But Meyerink and the 73’s defense weathered the storm. As the Sharks fired 10 shots in the final period to the 73’s 2. Meyerink was unbeaten on the night and turned aside 30 total shots to earn the shutout, as the 73’s held on to beat the Sharks for the first time this season, 1-0.

The series shifts back to Wheatley Sunday. With puck drop scheduled at 6 p.m.

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73's Struggling to Fight Off Sharks

February 12, 2020

By: Garrett Fodor

Twenty-four hours after dropping the first game in the best-of-seven series, the Essex 73’s were back in action in Wheatley against the Sharks.

After the marathon game on Feb. 11, both teams decided to give their starting goalies a rest, as the 73’s started Jax D’hondt and the Sharks, Jackson Ford. 

Unlike Tuesday, the 73’s opened the scoring and had the lead for the first time of the series. With two minutes remaining in the first period, Alex Demers drove the net and was rewarded. As Demers was driving towards the net, the puck was deflected off his shin and into the net. As the scoreboard read 1-0 after 20 minutes in an otherwise non-offensive period as the teams were tied in shots at five. 

In period two, the offence arrived. The Sharks responded seven minutes into the period, as Braedon Caetano scored the first of his two during the period, beating D’hondt off some pretty passing and an odd man rush with Alixe Saliba.

For Essex, they would also score in the period, as Preston Corp scored with the man advantage with 10 minutes to play.

Closing out the frame, Caetano notched his second of the period to tie the game at 2-2 going into the second intermission.

Shots after two period s were 18-14 in favour of Essex.

The Sharks came out of the intermission with an unseen gear and pace of play, hemming the 73’s in their own end early and generating several scoring chances. The effort led to three stragoals in the first 14 minutes of the period, to stun the 73’s and their fans in attendance. Liam Hall would score with four minutes remaining in the period, but the 73’s were unable to find the twine behind Ford as the Sharks took Game 2, 5-3. 

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Sharks Need Double OT to Stave Off 73's

February 11, 2020

By: Garrett Fodor

After concluding the regular season on February 9, 2020, the Essex 73’s were set for its first-round match up against the Wheatley Sharks, February 11.

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Entering the contest, the 73’s were the 4th place seed in the regular season, finishing a slot ahead of the Sharks. However, in the regular season schedule, the Sharks had the 73’s number. In the five meetings this season, the Sharks had won all 5 match ups, with Essex picking up a lone point.

For many Essex skaters, the game would serve as their first junior, playoff game with the team’s average age being 18.75, and the older Sharks team used this to their advantage.

The Sharks set the tempo early, not only scoring on goalie Connor Meyerink in the opening period, but also by setting the pace of play and dictating the offense and style of the game.

After 20 minutes of play, the Sharks had a 1-0 lead, while doubling up the 73’s in shots 12-6. It was a poorly played period by the 73's.

However, in the second period, the 73’s would get on the board. After winning an offensive zone draw, Josh Pope-Ferguson was quick to snap a wrist shot just below the bar and into Kyle Metson’s water bottle to deadlock the game at 1-1.

The 73’s would battle back, and after a sluggish start, got its feet under them. After 60 minutes the game was still tied 1-1, with the Sharks holding a 22-15 edge in shots.

Despite the pace and tempo, the area was silent and a pindrop could be heard among the nervous chatter in the third period, then the first overtime period and later into the second.

As the teams exchanged chances and sudden bursts of offense and speed, the respective crowds would get behind them. And halfway through the second overtime period, the arena erupted as Drew Denomey skated from one end to the other, with a head of speed, received a pass at the blueline.

The officials deemed him to be onside and he continued on his path toward the net before slipping the puck by Meyerink as he ended the sequence on top of him in the blue paint. The goal would stand, despite heated arguments.

Final score, 2-1, Wheatley.

The shots in the game were 42-35 Wheatley.

The teams are back in action Wednesday as they travel to Wheatley for Game 2 in the best-of-seven series. 

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