This past Saturday, the Peterborough 47’s travelled
down the 115 and 401 into the territory of the Ajax Knights. This was not
the same Ajax team that the 47's faced at the start of the year, the Knights
were prepared this time, having learned a new positional system. A system that
was ironically very similar to the one that the 47’s had mastered and played
very well. Right from puck drop, everyone could tell that this Ajax team was prepared
to guard their home ice.
With many of the 47’s regular coaching staff being unable to make the game, the players had some new voices behind the benches, which seemed to spark the team as both sides came out with high energy. The Knights were just as energetic though, as they began to make exceptional passes and control the puck well. This Ajax team began to press the 47’s with more aggression than they had experienced in any previous games. Even with this increased pressure, the 47’s remained disciplined and began to move the puck just as they had been taught and had practiced so many times before. Strong goaltending locked down the fort to allow the defencemen to move the puck up to the forwards, who found the back of the Knights’ net time and time again.
Key messages pre-game were - protect the danger zones, attack the Knights with speed and work to get rebounds. The 47’s played by these words and they were the key to finding the back of the net more than their opponents.
Tyce Summers was called upon to play in multiple positions during this game. His efforts on both ends of the ice were noted by all and his reward was being named the Hardest Working Warrior of the game.
The 47’s were reminded post-game about paying attention to details on the ice and picking up their checks along with being prepared in the second half of the season as each of their opponents will be stronger than the first time they played them.
Another great effort with great team work - a team that just had fun wearing the jersey of the 47.