Blues Even Series With 4-2 Win

Special teams play gave the Dundas Blues an edge on home ice Thursday night as the Junior C hockey team beat Grimsby Peach Kings 4-2 to even their best of seven Niagara District East Division final series at one game each.

Dundas killed all eight of their own penalties, shutting down the Peach King powerplay all night. And the hometown team found the net once on one of their own powerplays. Goalie Shawn Krzykala got the start for the Blues, and stopped 26 of 28 shots for the win.

The entertaining game featured end-to-end action, hard checks, several good scoring chances for both sides, and a couple of game misconduct penalties.

Facing five Grimsby powerplays in the first period, Dundas' penalty kill units had to battle hard. Dundas hit the scoreboard first with just over seven minutes left in the opening frame as league MVP Jesse Healy found the net on a long shot, assisted by defenceman and team Captain Andrew Clark, and league Rookie of the Year Cole McNeil.

Grimsby had a two-man advantage and pressured the Blues in the final minute of the opening period, Clark sacrificed his body for a key shot block to help ensure the slim lead held as the period winded down.

Despite the one goal lead, Dundas coaches appeared to be shaking their heads over the repeated trips to the penalty box to start the game.

Opening the second period with yet another powerplay, Grimsby swarmed Dundas' end. The Blues couldn't seem to get the puck out, sending clearing passes right onto the sticks of Peach King blueliners. Goalie Shawn Krzykala took control, stopping three straight Grimsby scoring chances.

But Dundas continued to buzz around the Grimsby half of the ice in the second period, keeping the Peach Kings off the scoreboard and strengthening the lead with a goal from Scott Kearsley, assisted by veteran Jonathon Cox and Kyle Draper.

Grimsby came on hard in the second half of the final period, scoring their first goal with just under 10 minutes to play. Less than five minutes later, they tied the game up - showing flashes of the comeback the Peach Kings put together at home last week to snatch an overtime victory in Game One.

Momentum seemed to be swinging Grimsby's way when, between their two goals, Dundas native and Blues leader Dustin Dzaman took a five minute major penalty and game misconduct for hitting from behind.

But Dundas Blues Andrew Clark, Scott Kearsley and Kyle Draper - each of whom battled hard all night long - continued the pressure in Grimsby's end. Their hard work paid off with an entertaining goal fired off the stick of Clark that appeared to catch the Grimsby goalie, then popped up and over him into the net. Dundas had the lead again, 3-2.

Grimsby threw everything they had at the Blues in the final three minutes, pulling their goalie in favour of an extra skater to keep the pressure on. Dundas finally cleared their end and, after a couple of attempts, scored on the empty net to make it 4-2 with just 24 seconds to play. Dundas native Mike Peters picked up the empty-netter to cap a night of hard work by the forward.

Healy assisted on the final goal, but ended up motionless on the ice some point between the puck sliding over the line and the celebration. He skated off the ice under his own power - with a choice word or two for the Grimsby bench as he glided by, and was reportedly fine following the game. Grimsby's Stevan Manojlovic was handed a five minute major penalty and a game misconduct for "checking to the head."

The tied series moves back to Grimsby Friday night, March 6, at 7:30 p.m. for Game Three. Both teams then get a week between games until they return to the Valley Town for Game Four on Thursday, March 12 at the J.L. Grightmire Arena on Market Street in Dundas. The good sized crowd appreciated 60 minutes of good hockey, but there were plenty of open seats at the historic Dundas arena tonight.

Please check Dundas Sports Central regularly for updates of this very close and entertaining series, and don't forget your copy of the Dundas Star News - published every Friday in Dundas.