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Caribous trample CeeBees
Ken Oliver (koliver@thetelegram.com) From The Telegram
Conception Bay North CeeBee Stars head coach Eddie Oates didn’t dance around the issue of Saturday night’s Telegram Herder Memorial Championship Series opener at Mile One.
“We got what we deserved,” Oates said after losing Game 1 8-2 to the Clarenville Caribous, “an ass-kicking.”
But as quick as Oates was to point out his team came up far short of their own expectations and were surprised by the end result, he’s confident they can turn it around before Game 2 tonight, 7:30, at Mile One.
“We’ve got to be better from our goaltending out. We can’t be turning the puck over in our own end because in the neutral zone, they’re quick in transition.
“Last year were down four goals going into the third (with Deer Lake) and almost tied it up. We came back in Game 2 and had a great effort and were more urgent and we’ll do the same thing (Sunday).”
Clarenville bench boss Randy Pearcey, while delighted with a momentous opening game win, isn’t counting the CeeBees out.
“I know they’re going to come with a game plan (Sunday) to try to neutralize our scoring,” Pearcey said.
“They’re not the defending champs for no reason.”
Veteran Mark Chaplin and rookie Chris Mooney paced the winners with two goals and two assists each, while former CeeBee Brad Crann netted a pair of his own. Captain Dustin Russell and import Ryan Lauzon added singles, with the former picking up two helpers for a three point night.
Sean Wadden and Matthew Thomey replied for the CeeBees.
But the story of this game was in between the pipes. C.B.N. netminder Freddy Diamond looked shaky early on and surrendered four goals in the first 10 minutes of the opening period.
“He got us here and we’re going to ride him,” Oates said of his puckstopper. “You got to play through that. We wanted him to stay in there and get some confidence and build on that for the rest of the series.”
Diamond got the hook to start the third, as Oates opted for backup Bronson Dawe.
At the other end of the ice, Clarenville netminder Jason Churchill was cool and composed all night as he stopped 43 of 45 shots faced. But none bigger than a kick save on a Neil Cleary shot that resulted in an odd-man rush the opposite direction that ended with Russell’s goal to put the ‘Bous up 3-1.
“Early in the game, when it was still on the line, Churchill came up with the big save,” Pearcey said. “That’s all you ask of a goalie; make the big save to keep us in there till we get going.”
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