The Terrace Peewee Rep's first game of provincials in Creston was a tough 4-2 loss to Kamloops on Sunday. But the team hasn't looked back since, winning their next three games, including this morning's 8-0 victory over Cranbrook.
The first game of the tournament against Kamloops was close with lots of back and forth action. Going into the third Kamloops was leading 2-1 but Terrace scored early in the period to even the score at 2-2. The contest remained close until near the 7:00 minute mark when Kamloops scored to take the lead. At the 6:00 minute mark of the period Kamloops took a penalty and Terrace went on the power play. They stormed the Kamloops net and had numerous good scoring opportunities but the Kamloops goaltender held his ground. Shortly after the expiration of the penalty Kamloops scored again to seal the victory.
But the team bounced back the next day, with a 6-3 win over Arbutus that featured the first major penalties of the championships with an Arbutus player and one of the team's coaches receiving game misconducts.
This game was also a close affair. Arbutus took a one goal lead in the opening frame and Terrace answered with two goals near the middle of the period. Both clubs each scored another goal before the end of the period for a 3-2 lead for Terrace entering the second. Each club scored a goal in the middle frame and Terrace held a 4-3 lead going into the third period, and sealed the victory with two more goals in the final period. Terrace captain Mason Richey led his team with two goals and two assists.
Yesterday, Terrace trounced Kerry Park 6-2 in another close and competitive game that felt like two games in one with Terrace carrying the play in the first period and a half and then Kerry Park dominating the second half of the game. Terrace opened the scoring near the middle of the first period with two goals to take the lead. Kerry Park replied with two goals of their own near the 5:00 minute mark, tying it up. Terrace scored a goal near the end of the period to take a 3-2 lead into the middle frame and then scored the only goal of the second period to take a 4-2 lead going into the third. Terrace scored a goal at 7:14 of the third period to take a commanding lead and then added an empty net goal after Kerry Park had pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker.
And this morning Terrace shut out Cranbrook 8-0 in a game completely dominated by Terrace, both on the scoreboard and in play on the ice. Cranbrook had some good chances but just could not get the puck past the Terrace goaltender. Credit goes to Cranbrook for continuing to play hard right up to the end of the game. Terrace scored three goals in the first period, two more in the second and three in the third to secure the win.
Semi-finals start tomorrow.