Friday, September 14th, 2007 Pickering-3 @ Markham-4 PANTHERS COMEBACK EFFORT FALLS SHORT... MARKHAM, ON: The Pickering Panthers and Markham Waxers battled tooth'n'nail in the first half of a home-and-home series, with the Waxers pulling out a 4-3 win on home ice. The game started great for Pickering, just 2:21 into the 1st period, rookie Kain Allicock stole the puck and raced in on a breakaway. Showing the scoring touch of a veteran, Allicock snapped a perfect shot past Matt Hansel to make it 1-0 Pickering. Three minutes later, the first of several unlucky bounces for Pickering. With the Waxers on the powerplay, David Kostuch sent a pass through the crease that hit Tom Longland in the skate. Connor Sampson had no time to react, and the score was tied 1-1. Midway through the period the Waxers would add another powerplay goal, this time from Corey Tamblyn. Make it 2-1 Waxers after 20-minutes. In the 2nd period the veteran full Waxer squad would add another two goals. Early in the period Cowdrey added his 2nd of the game, late in the period Kostuch would add a shorthanded goal on a bad Panther giveaway. Make it 4-1 Waxers after 40-minutes. The game seemed to be in the Waxers hands, but the young Pickering team showed no signs of quit, and seemed to stun Markham with their jump out of the gate in the 3rd, despite being down 4-1 on the road. Just 37-seconds into the period Allicock scored his 2nd of the game off a nice tip in front, on a Longland point shot. The Panthers pulled to within two. Less than four minutes later Daniel Mandel converted on a Scott Brown point shot for a powerplay goal. Make it 4-3 Waxers, Pickering was back in the contest. The rest of the 3rd period saw Pickering out-play the Waxers, out-shooting them 17-10. But the game-tying-goal was elusive. Late in the game a shot from the point beat Hansel clean, but found the crossbar. In the dying second Greg Riggs unloaded a beautiful slapshot from the circle, Hansel got a piece, and the puck just skimmed over the crossbar. Make the final 4-3 Markham. The physical, intense, and exciting affair sets up the 2nd half of the home-and-home series. The two teams go at it again on Sunday night in Pickering, game time is 6:30pm. COPYWRIGHT PICKERING PANTHERS JR.A HOCKEY CLUB HOME OPENER MARKHAM WAXERS @ PICKERING PANTHERS SEPT.16TH - 6:30PM 2007 NCAA COMMITMENTS NCAA DIV.I MICHAEL BANWELL MAINE NCAA DIV.I RICHARD SCHOFIELD LAKE SUPERIOR NCAA DIV.I ZACK FENWICK MERCYHURST NCAA DIV.III BRAD FOGAL ADRIAN COLLEGE NCAA DIV.III KEVIN HUININK SALEM STATE 2007 OHL SIGNINGS JESSES HEBSCHER SUDBURY