It has taken me nearly a week to get to writing the recaps for this delightful double header to the death…I needed that time to fully absorb and digest just how incredible this Cup coda was. The two top teams, both at the top of their game…neither willing to concede even the tiniest piece of space or spare moment from their opponent from start to finish. The ‘start’ was rather startling for the catbird-sitting top seeds, as Owen Perks quickly deposited a ball past his brother to give Charcoal the (very) early edge (from Chris Tran and Captain Shawna Hamon). Zach Salt returned the early period favor for Silver, squaring the score at 8:44 in the middle layer (from Justin Ker and Sadie Hellstrom). Captain Hamon cashed in on the power play at 4:44 (from Tran and Mark Ennsmann), but there was no panic in Silver’s game, and Alexis DaCosta found the counterpunch to level the ledger again with 1:55 to play (from Salt and Matt Gottfried). Neither Silas Perks (16/18), nor Don Tran (18/20) would budge through the remainder of regulation, and a full five of overtime. On to the shootout…where Charcoal shot out Silver’s chance at a one-and-done knock out with a commanding show of nerve and skill. Both Chris Tran and Zach Salt converted in round one, but Salt would be the only shine on Silver’s star in the shootout, while both Kalen Hunter and Mark Ennsmann solved Silas to build a 3-1 lead. Neither Owen Perks nor Alexis DaCosta could find twine, meaning that the shootout (unlike the actual game) ended a bit early, with Captain Hamon and Sadie Hellstrom sitting, rather than shooting. The 3-2 Charcoal coup meant game two…
Sometimes you are good, sometimes you are lucky, and sometimes you are good and lucky. Both teams had proven the ‘good’ part, but Charcoal got some luck mixed in midway through the first period of the final Final game. A very safe, innocent play turned to disaster for Silver, as a Joel Gattey push from behind the net caught the back of Silas Perks’ pad and nestled into the net for a shocking own goal. Bad luck…bad omen…bad start for Captain Audrey Stratton’s side. Chris Tran was credited with the goal, and while it is not going to make his career highlight reel, they all count on the scoreboard. Kalen Hunter made another count on the scoreboard late in the second to build the lead to two, but Silver found the belly fire in the second intermission, and Alexis DaCosta snapped home Silver’s first answer just eleven seconds into the third (from Sadie Hellstrom and Arnold Gonzales). Hunter put his light grey prey at bay with a gut punch response to the DaCosta tally just 0:36 later. It was DaCosta again just over a minute and a half later to once again make it a one goal game, and it was really beginning to look like this Cup would be decided in an all out slug fest. As it went, there was only one slug left…Owen Perks (from Jackson Tomaszewski and Hunter) dropping one more flying elbow on his dear brother to give Charcoal a 4-2 lead they would never relinquish. Don Tran (8/10) was not nearly as busy as his counterpart, Perks (10/14), but he was so steady, and so unshakeable in the shootout in these playoffs…he was top notch. Kalen Hunter was otherworldly in these games, and he would have my support as the Final MVP…just one reporter’s opinion. So, just as many pundits (and the secret prophecy) foretold, this LONG, wet, winding winter season ended with the tiniest of twists…a two seed over the sitting one seed. Congratulations to Captain Shawna Hamon and ‘CoCoal Chanel’, and congratulations to Captain Audrey Stratton and her ‘Silver Foxes’ for a remarkable run, and for their part in one of the best final Sundays in league history!