Series recap as per Coach McClure
MITCHELL, ON – The Mitchell Peewee AE squad fought back from a 2-1 series deficit to take the WOAA Championship Saturday night in Mitchell against season rivals Goderich.
After a back and forth first period, Curtis Lockhart finished a 2 on 1 play on a beautiful pass from Tyler Smith to put the local boys up one on the first shift of the second period. Goderich answered on the power play as a shot from the point was tipped in front and slid past Aaron McNeil midway through the period.
With the score evened up and both teams battling for the banner, the third period proved to be no pageant. After Mitchell was unable to convert on the powerplay, a big breakaway save from McNeil midway through the period gave them the momentum to the boys in white. At 6:01 of the final frame, hard working and fast flying winger Quaid Austin put the puck past the Goderich netminder from a shot from the high slot.
The boys knew they had to defend their lead from a strong attack by the pressing Sailor squad in the remaining five minutes. Consistent and reliable efforts from Brett DeJong and Luke and Jack O’Rourke helped a shortened defensive corps take the lead into the buzzer.
This hard fought Mitchell squad came into their championship series with Goderich ready to battle. Riley Sykes introduced himself and his line mates, Kurtis Eisler and Curtis Lockhart, who proved to be a dangerous trio all series long, by jumping out to a 1-0 lead on their first shift of the game. A strong net presence from Eisler allowed him to bury a loose puck in front of the net early in the second to put the locals up a pair and Tanner Knechtel made a gorgeous two pad stack in the third period of play to keep the boys ahead after they cut the lead to 1. Lockhart joined in the fun by icing the puck into an empty net from Mitchell’s blue line in the dying seconds of play to secure a series lead.
Game 2 set the tone for the series as both teams played scoreless through two periods and late into the third. The winning goal, which foreshadowed the only other goal that would sneak past a consistent McNeil in game 5, was scored with 1:50 left in the game on a redirect form a shot from the point. Although Mitchell carried most of the play outshooting their opponents 26-18, they could not convert on their powerplay opportunities.
Mitchell responded in game 3 taking a 2-1 lead into the third period with goals from Eisler and Sykes. Unfortunately, they could not finish the game off in game 1 fashion. Goderich evened the score midway through the period and scored the go-ahead goal with only 27 seconds left in the final frame. The series was in Goderich’s favour up 2-1 heading back to Ontario’s west coast for game 4. The loss also cost Mitchell a series ending injury to fast skating defenseman Jamie Adair as he separated a shoulder from a hit from behind.
After a clear thinking homework free week, the Meteors were ready to avenge a third period collapse and were not taking any prisoners. With a pair of goals scored in every period of Game 4, a shorthanded Mitchell squad dominated the Sailors in a 6-0 statement game. The Eisler-Lockhart-Sykes connection combined for 8 points, as Sykes lead the way with a pair of goals and assists and Lockhart and Eisler adding one of each. Nick Baker and Tyler Smith both fell into fine form and added a goal and assist each. Luke O’Rourke showed off his hands with 2 helpers.
As previously stated, this set up a climactic game 5 finish for the locals. Mitchell now advances to the OMHA quarter-final playdowns against Collingwood and will start this Friday and Saturday on the mountain with game 3 back in town on Sunday night at 7:00 and Game 4 set for Saturday February 25 at 6:40 also at the Mitchell Community centre. Please come out and support the boys.
Let’s go Meteors.
Thanks to Coach McClure for his recap of a great series!!