Wednesday, September 19th, 2007 DIXIE-2 @ PICKERING-3 CALMA MAKES 30-SAVES, EARNS 1st JR.A WIN... PICKERING, ON: Ben Calma stopped 30-of-32 shots in first his career Jr.A start, and Stan Smrke picked a perfect time to score his 1st career Jr.A goal as the Pickering Panthers topped the Dixie Beehives 3-2 in Pickering. Pickering got on the board early in the 1st period courtesy a goal from three Panther veterans. Greg Pay, Mike McFarlane, and Daniel Mandel hooked up for a pretty tap-in just 1:30 into the opening frame. McFarlane’s cross crease pass was directed into a yawning cage by Payne for his 1st of the season. The lead was short lived as the Beehives tied the just under two minutes later on a similar play to Pickering’s opening marker courtesy John Clewlow (goal) and Chris Smith. Make it 1-1 after 20-minutes. The 2nd period saw plenty of scoring chances for both teams, that results in no goals. The Panthers had a pair of two-man advantages but couldn’t beat Joe Moore, the Beehives enjoyed a four-minute powerplay, but couldn’t beat Calma. Make it 1-1 after 40-minutes. In the 3rd period, with Dixie on the powerplay, a broken and scrambled play ended up in the back of Pickering’s goal. Calma would make three point blank saves, before a bouncing puck was corralled in the slot and fired along the ice and in. The Panthers were down 2-1 with 15-minutes to go in the games. More penalty trouble for the Beehives finally resulted in a Panther goal. On a two-man advantage, the Panthers worked the puck to the point where Tom Longland set one up for Jamie MacQueen who unloaded a one-timer to the top corner. It was MacQueen’s 3rd goal of the season, and knotted the game at 2-2. The two teams exchanged chances through the 3rd, with the best scoring chances thwarted by Calma midway through the 3rd. In a three to four minute span Calma would several solid saves, including a few tough shots through traffic during a Beehive PP. With just over five minutes to play, the Panthers broke up a Beehive rush and generated a two-on-one with Stan Smrke and MacQueen. The Panther rookie walked in on a goal and fired a perfect shot that went post-and-in. It was Smrke’s 1st career Jr.A goal, and stood as the game-winner. The final five minutes saw Pickering be forced to make a goaltending change. An equipment problem saw Calma head to the bench on a whistle, and under OPJHL rules Pickering was forced to switch goaltenders. Veteran netminder Connor Sampson came in with no stretch time, and although wasn’t busy, did the job stopped two shots unti Calma re-entered the Panther goal. Pickering was able to kill the rest of the clock, and hold on for a 3-2 victory. The Panthers will skate today and gear up for 3-games in 3-nights. Friday night in Pickering vs Toronto Jr. Canadiens – 7:30pm Saturday afternoon in Mississauga vs Kingston Vees – 5:45pm. Sunday night in Toronto vs Jr. Canadiens – 7:00pm. COPYWRIGHT PICKERING PANTHERS JR.A HOCKEY CLUB NEXT GAME TORONTO Jr.CANADIENS @ PICKERING PANTHERS SEPT.21ST - 7:30PM 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