WOW DOUBLE OVERTIME WIN IN CLUTCH DO OR DIE GAME FOR MITCHELL TIRE NOVICE AE'S! "March 18th"
Friday night the Mitchell Tire Novice AE's had a big game in Zurich to either move on to the WOAA finals or end their play off run. This was the ninth time this year we have taken to the ice to play the Thunder, none bigger then this one though! After nine previous games the two teams were dead even at four wins a piece which was fitting for the final meeting of the season win and move on or lose and call it a year. Both teams knew what was on the line and knew what had to be done in order to continue a play off drive. After both teams exchanged scoring chances right through regulation neither team was able to find a way to beat one of the goalies, so off to overtime we went. Once again both teams were trying to become the winner while neither team wanted to become the goat so again both goalies held the door shut, but with 7:50 left on the clock in the second overtime period Kyle "Clutch" Eisler was able to tuck the shot just inside the post and beat a screened Zurich goalie to end the marathon and the celebration started! Wow after over four periods of back and forth hockey we finally walked away with a hard fought 1-0 win to move on to the finals and play a strong Mildmay team. The next series starts Monday night in Mildmay at 7 pm game two Thursday night at 6:45 in Mitchell and game number three is also in Mitchell Saturday at 4pm. Come out and enjoy some excellent novice hockey and support our local boyz!
Sunday afternoon we also hosted the Monkton novice team for a friendly exhibition game just to have some fun, we were able to call up some of the novice LL's to join in and play for us and they all played great! Once again this one stayed scoreless until early in the third when Monkton scored on a rebound to beat Mitchell goalie Charlie Wood for the first goal in almost two full games for the weekend. Then Monkton added another on a penalty shot to make it 2-0 before Connor Lockhart scored from Dayten Porter to bring us back to within 1. With just over a minute left in the third novice LL player Drew Scherbarth scored in his AE debut to draw us even at 2's, and that is the way this one ended.
EXCITEMENT, EXCITEMENT, EXCITEMENT! "March 10th"
The Mitchell Tire Novice AE's went into Thursday night home game in a little bit of a hole sitting with no wins and two losses looking to get even with second place Zurich. After a scoreless first period Mitchell opened the scoring early in the second period with a one timer backhand from the front of the net by none other then Will "the Thrill" Steinbach on a beauty pass from defenceman Tanner Meinen who faked the shot only to put the pass right on the tape of Steinbach to burry it in the wide open cage, Kyle Eisler also picking up an assist on the goal. The very next shift Zurich came back down the ice and was able to beat the Mitchell keeper Charlie Wood to even the score at 1's, and that is where the score would stay untill the final buzzer. Off to overtime we go for the first time this year, and just over a minute into the extra frame Eisler was able to break free and bust in all alone on the Zurich goaltender and fire the biscuit top shelf to keep our hopes alive and push on to the finals!
Saturday morning we were off to Mildmay to try to draw the round robin a little closer taking on the 2 and 0 Mildmay team. Once again the first period was scoreless and we were able to notch the first goal of the game early in the second period on a goal from defenceman Josh Edit who led the rush up the ice to get over the blueline and cut to the middle of the ice and rip a shot five hole on the Mildmay goalie. Like our game Thursday night we gave up our lead on the very next shift, and then another goal shortly there after to be down 2-1 before Joey Adam notched the score at 2's heading into the third period, both Mitchell goals were assisted by Eisler. With just under ten minutes remaining in the third Mildmay was able to regain the lead and never looked back adding another goal a couple minutes later to make the final 4-2 Mildmay. This makes the round robin interesting looking like we are tied for second with Zurich which sounds like a one game playoff winner take all to see who would go on to the final round of the playoffs against Mildmay in a three out of five series.
Mitchell Tire Novice AE's Open Playoffs With A Win! "February 18th"
Saturday morning the Micthell Tire AE's were looking to open their playoffs with a win on the road. The host Brussels came out flying by scoring off the opening faceoff to take an early lead, but shortly there after a surprised Matthew Crawford just threwnthe puck toward the net only to turn around and fine he beat the Brussels goalie to even the score at one assisted by Connor Lockhart. Only 25 seconds later Kyle Eisler showed his leadership by taking hold of the team and notching his first of three in the second period, Joey Adam also chipped in scoring once from Crawford to make it 5-1 Mitchell heading into the third. Eisler once again barried another early in the final frame from none other then Denzel Finlayson who got his first point of the season! Brussels got one more but that would be it as Dayton Porter lit the lamp one more time for Mitchell to send us on our way home with a 7-2 victory to start the playoffs with a win. Our next game is back in our barn Thursday night at 5:50 in Mitchell looking for another win and move on to the next round.
For The Third Weekend In A Row The Mitchell Tire Novice AE's Earn Split! "February 12th"
The Mitchell Tire Novice AE's once again went into the weekend with two games, one on the road and one in their own barn! Each game was against a team at different ends of the standings. The first one was bright and early Saturday morning in a cold Brussels arena against a struggling Blyth/Brussels AE team, after handing them another loss last weekend, we were looking to get a second win as many tries. With just under four minutes left in the first period Connor Lockhart opened the scoring from Dayton Porter and Matthew Crawford, then nearing the end of the second period that line was at it again with Porter burying the biscuit from Lockhart and Crawford. Early in the third, Kurtis DeJong slapped a beauty pass from the corner off the stick of Kyle Eisler, into the back of the net, and shortly after Lockhart got his second of the game from Curtis Chaffe. But the host was able to finally put one passed goalie, Charlie Wood, with only two minutes left in the game to spoil his second shut out in a row, to make it a 4-1 win.
Sunday's game was against a still undefeated Drayton team who was looking to end the regular season on a high note, but we were looking to be the spoilers but I guess we will have to keep looking? Drayton won 5-0. After the dust settled all we can do is sit now and wait till we find out where, when and who are playoffs are against?
The Boys finished the regular season, showing signs of developing their games and are looking forward to their second season to start, unlike the Leafs who normally don't get to participate in the playoffs!!!!!!