Sting & Kings to meet in Damascus Cup Final

 

And then there were two...

 

The Sting & Kings advanced to the Damascus Cup Finals this week with wins over the Jets & Sharks respectively.

 

Jets vs. Sting

 

The Sting advanced past the Jets on Monday in a two game sweep. After a game won rout, Game 2 was much closer. Sharks' coach, Jamie Wilson was filling in for Jerry Baker, who was absent due to the birth of his daughter. The Sting got off to a hot start, potting two quick goals on veteran player but rookie goalie, Richmond Fillion. The Jets would pull it together and started to force a counter attack. They would bring it to within one late in the 1st on a goal by Wilson.

 

Not wanting to be swept, the Jets poured on the pressure in the 2nd. Out chancing the Sting in the frame, it was Scott Adamson's time in the spotlight. On several occasions, the Sting were scrambling to get the ball out of the zone with the Jets pouncing on rebound after rebound, but Adamson made big saves in big moments. Even though the Jets would equalize on a snipe by Dylan Gagnon, it could have easily been a two or three goal lead for the Jets, if not for Adamson's timely saves. The 2nd period ended 2-2.

 

Being out played in the 2nd, the Sting didn't want the series to go to a 3rd Game and turned their game around in the 3rd. They were more calm and patient with the ball, and dictated the play more to their strength in the frame. They took the lead part way through and never looked back. It was just a bit too much for the Jets as they started to fatigue. The Sting would add four goals in the frame and would sweep the Jets to make it to the Damascus Cup Final for the first time in the franchise's history.

 

Players of the Game: Richmond Fillion (6 GAA) & Scott Adamson (2 GAA)

 

Kings vs. Sharks

 

The Kings will be in back-to-back Damascus Cup Finals with their sweep of the Sharks on Tuesday.

 

However, it is doing so with only one returning member from last year's roster. Keenan Wood will be making his 2nd straight Damascus Cup appearance next week, after he helped dispose of the Sharks in two games. Game 2 was as exciting a game as you can get.

 

Both teams were evenly matched in this series. Game 1 went to overtime and there was no reason to think Game 2 wouldn't either. Both teams came out swinging in the 1st. The Sharks took the lead early, with a goal by Jamie Wilson, but the Kings would answer shortly after as Connor Logan hit Cody Saunders with a stretch pass to send him in on a breakaway. It was a fast paced period with breakaways, big saves and big goals. The period would end 3-2 in favour of the Kings.

 

The Sharks locked it down in the 2nd. They laid it all out, controlling the majority of the play, getting the majority of the chances, and were able to shut out the Kings in the frame. In doing so, they were also able to capitalize on their strong play, as Wilson scored his 3rd & 4th goals of the game to give his squad the lead heading into the 3rd.

 

They were up, they had momentum, but the game wasn't over. The paced never ceased thoughout the game and it was starting to affect the Sharks. Having only 1 sub, fatigue was setting in a bit. The Kings took advantage of their fresher legs and speedier players to create a couple 3-on-2's and before the Sharks could blink, Wood potted two goals to give his team the 5-4 lead. Down a goal late in the 3rd, the Sharks started to press harder, which unfortunately leaves the defense open for a counter attack. After a strong offensive push, Saunders intercepted a pass and went top blocker to extend the lead to two, and give himself four on the night. The Sharks gave it everything they had in the final minutes and were able to get one back in the final minute, but they couldn't get a second. The Kings advance to the Damascus Cup Final with a 6-5 win.

 

Players of the Game: Cody Saunders (4 goals, 1 assist, GWG) & Antonio/Tim Meneses (1 assist/2assists)