After a lightening fast start to the season which saw the boys explode to an 8-3-1 exhibition and league record the inevitable reality check was bound to happen.
In mid November the ‘AE’ boys stepped up and tested themselves in a REP tourney in Clifford and were handed two rather close losses considering their Rep level opponents. Mount Forest and Smithville came out on top 3-0 and 5-0 respectively.
The next three league games were tight on the score board for the local boys coming out on the short end with only 1 point to show from a 1-1 tie with Elma Logan and losses of 2-1 to division leading Zurich and 4-0 to Listowel (a couple quick miscues made a 2-0 game appear worse).
The most recent game in Goderich Sunday night saw the boys even after the first 1-1. In the second Goderich put up two more with a power play goal and then a short-handed marker as a result of the Mitchell squad pressing hard to break out of the recent scoring slump. Even though the scoreboard did not reflect it the Mitchell squad dominated the play in the second period winning 19 of 29 face offs; of which only two were in the Mitchell zone.
In the final frame the hard work ethic continued and positive results transpired as the local boys allowed only one face off to take place in the defensive zone and muscled in two more goals to leave town with a 3-3 tie. The tie felt as good as a victory as a direct result from their never say die attitude, hard work and total team effort. Three qualities that will serve them well headed into next weekend’s Silver Stick Regional Tournament in Exeter.
The tight games of late and solid goaltending have only served to strengthen this team for what is to come at the Silver Stick.
Game On!
Let’s Go Meteors!