Flyers outlast Avalanche, win Game One 6-5

By Matt Robinson/Valencia Flyers Junior A Hockey                                                        3/15/14, 930 EST

Game one of the WSHL Pacific Division semi-final between Ontario and Valencia was just about everything a WSHL Playoff game between two rivals is expected to be. It was back and forward, with the teams trading jabs, both getting their chances, trying to make the other pay for mistakes.

The teams traded goals throughout, chasing both starters from the game, with the victory eventually going to Valencia 6-5.

Ontario started the game off in a positive fashion when Luke Rendino got the scoring started just 5:28 into the game.

The Flyers did what they have done all year and kept plugging away despite the early deficit, eventually tying and taking the lead on goals by Captain Austin Ehrlich and Forward Adam Papayoanou just 21 seconds apart from one another. Ehrlich was able to slid the puck past Ontario started Drake Koegel after a nice setup by Jakob Kranabetter and Aharon Lara to even the game at 1-1.

The Flyers then got some luck as a pass by Papayoanou bounced past Koegel to give the Flyers the 2-1 lead just 21 second later.

Valencia would eventually extend the lead to 4-1 late in the first when another pass, this time from Blake Aguilar, once again found its way behind Koegel making it 3-1 Flyers, spelling the end of Koegel’s night. Just over a minute later Luc Whyte would carry a puck into the Ontario end and make a nice move around Ben Meadows and fire one past Daniel Cepila making it 4-1.

The three goal lead would not last long as Ontario would get and convert on a penalty shot after a Flyers player covered the puck in the goal crease.

The second period started with Ontario narrowing the gap to 4-3 when Hallberg was able to put one behind Flyers 

goaltender Mark Becica just 5:44 into the second.

The Flyers regained a two goal lead just a few minutes later in the second as Zach Paxman was able to backhand one past Cepila as he was pressured from behind, making it 5-3 Valencia.

Ontario would battle right back, making it 5-4 when a long range wrist shot from Niklas McPherson found its way over Becica’s shoulder, forcing Coach Berge to make a change in goal, opting for Luke Thompson to finish the game after 4 goals on 20 shots.

The game would head into the third at 5-4 and remained that way most of the period. Flyers Captian Austin Ehrlich scored his second of the night and playoffs with 12 minutes remaining in the game to give the Flyers a 6-4 lead and some insurance.

Ehrlich’s goal would eventually stand up as the game winner as Ontario made it interesting with 6:30 remaining, but 6-5 would be as close as they could come as the Flyers solidified their defense in the closing moments to pick up a big game one victory and a 1-0 series lead.

Game two will be played tonight, Saturday, March 15^th at Center Ice Ontario at 7:30 PM. The game can also be seen live on fasthockey.com.

Matt Robinson is the Play-by-Play Voice of the Valencia Flyers. In addition, Matt also handles the Valencia Flyers Social Media accounts, produces stories and content for valenciaflyers.net and does Play-by-Play for College of the Canyons Ice Hockey.