Weekend of wins books peewee A Knights trip to OMHA finals

March 9, 2016 · 0 Comments

Michael Termini gains the zone on a breakaway in Game 5 of the peewee A Knights’ OMHA semi-final series against the Quinte West Hawks.

By Jake Courtepatte
Third time was the charm for the peewee A NobleKing Knights, who put up a trio of wins over a busy weekend to earn a spot in the OMHA championship series.
Down two games to none to the Quinte West Hawks in a first-to-six-points semi-final series, the players were in tough, needing three straight wins in three straight days in order to advance.
Supporters were out in droves at Nobleton Arena on Friday for game three, with the home squad looking set for their first win up 3-2 in the third off goals from Aurelio De Rose and Owen Clark. The Hawks made it a nail-biter by tying the score with their goaltender pulled in the final minute, but Michael Termini provided the game winner off a pass from Cameron Robinson just seconds later.
Still in a “do-or-die” situation, the action switched to Trenton for game four Saturday. After a scoreless first period, the Knights took a 2-0 lead off notches from Ryan Dimitroff and Derek Evangelista. The defence played their part in preserving the lead, killing off consecutive 5-on-3 situations late in the second.
Quinte once again attempted a comeback, making it a one-goal lead in the final five minutes, but Termini provided an empty-netter for a 3-1 win.
With the series tied at two games apiece, Nobleton Arena was buzzing again on Sunday in what would be the deciding game of the series. Termini was an offensive force to be reckoned with, breaking a goose egg in the opening minutes of the second period on a breakaway before adding three more by the final buzzer.
Clark provided an additional goal, while Matthew Maniatis was solid in the crease in a 5-0 shutout.
The going only gets tougher from here. Set to face the Knights in the final series are the Grimsby Kings, the second-ranked team in the province. The Kings are yet to be on the losing end this post-season, putting up six wins and three ties on their road to the championship.
Game one will kick off sometime next week.
The peewee Knights are the last remaining NobleKing team in the OMHA playoffs.