The Larry Hudson Midget LL team finished off their regular season with 2 wins, 1 tie and a loss to end the regular season in a tie for first place in the South Division of WOAA.
Recap of our final few regular season games:
Jan 22, 2017
We would make the track to Blyth to take on the Blyth Brussels Burgundy team. The majority of this game was played either on the penalty kill or power play for both teams as numerous of penalties were taken. Blyth Brussels would get the early lead but surrender the goal right back to us to tie the game. Curtis Edit would score from the pass of Tristan Beehler. As the period was almost over, Zeke Koert would net our second one goal from the help of Jarrett Vogels and Eric Dearing. Way to go boys! The game continued and so did the scoring for Mitchell as Tristan Beehler would add to our lead with Curtis Edit and Clayton McCarthy earning the assists in the second period. In the final period of this over heated affair, the good boys would tap that little black disk in the net to increase our lead 5-1. Eric Dearing and Curtis Edit would be rewarded for their efforts from the play making of Clayton McCarthy and Tristan Beehler. As time was winding down, Blyth Brussels took advantage of a missed clearing attempt to score and make the final score 5-2. Wow, what a game, glad that this game as over as it was getting out of hand!
Jan 26, 2017
A few nights later, we would make our final road trip of the regular season to Wingham to take on the Ironman, a team we haven't had the chance to face so far this season. After a bit of a delay, the game finally started. This time Trevor DeJong would get our boys on the scoreboard first from the help of Curtis Edit. Wingham would come back to tie the game but in the final seconds of this opening period, Zeke Koert would score to give us the lead. Assisted by Curtis Edit and Clayton McCarthy. Second period was back and fourth for both teams but nearing the end of the period, Kurtis Forrest increased our lead from the help of fellow player Zeke Koert. Good work boys, let's keep this going for the final period! As the ice surface was cleaned and ready to be marked up, the Ironman would sneak the puck pass our goalie James Copeland to cut into our lead, now it was 3-2. During this final period the tempers started to fly high for Wingham as they just couldn't seem to stop or slow down our Meteors so they ended up playing the remainder of the game short handed. With just over five minutes left in the game, Kurtis Forrest would net his second of the net from the fancy stick work of Tristan Beehler and Trevor DeJong to seal the win 4-2.
Jan 31, 2017
Back on our home turf (Monkton) it would be the rematch with the Ironman. Again we started the game off on the right note by scoring first. Eric Dearing netted the puck from the stick of Trevor DeJong. Nice play boys, let's keep this going. Just minutes after taking the lead, Mitchell was caught for hooking a Wingham player as he was on a breakaway to our net so they were awarded a penalty shot. Aww, as everyone was quiet and waiting for the dreeded shot to be taken, the player started skating towards our goalie with the puck moving side to side on his stick and picked his spot to shoot and guess what, James Copeland was right there to stone him! Ref waves no goal and the game continues with a roar from our side and disappointed cry from Wingham. As Wingham continued to fire shots at our goalie, they finally were able to get one in and tie the game before the end of the first period. Second period's score would change to be in Wingham's favor 2-1 but there was still another period left to tie up this game. In the final period of the game, Wingham decided to play a little more aggressive than what the refs liked so they spent a bit of time in the penalty box. In the last few minutes of play, Wingham had not one but two players in the box so we took full advantage of the fact and scored to tie the game. Des Finlayson fired a shot from the point right at the net and Christian Simpson got his stick on the flying puck to direct it into the net to tie the game. Wow, what a shot! With the game all tied at 2, the clock counted down and the game ended 2-2. Good, another one in the books!
Feb 1, 2017
The next night back in Monkton would be our final regular season game of the season against Goderich. It was a good game but we would lose our final game 3-1. Nate Baker scored our only goal of the game. This was a tough game for our coach Rob but at the end of it, it just came down to coaching and he was just out coached by Goderich!
The boys will now be getting ready to start their playoffs, just have to wait and see who we are going to face. This Saturday the boys will play in the District Lions Club Midget LL tournament in Ripley. Good luck boys!