Regional Silver Stick action continued for the Walkom’s
Valu-Mart Atom Reps, when they took to the ice at the Blyth Arena on Saturday,
for game three of divisional play.
Meeting the Elmvale Coyotes for the second time this season, (where the Meteors fell to the Coyotes at the Vic Demeyre Tournament) Mitchell was fired-up and started with an opening face-off rush led by Ethan Jarmuth, which set the tone early for the pace of the game. Despite several shots fired by Charlie Wolfe, Max Hannon and Jonah Gibbings being robbed by the Coyotes goaltender, Carter Miller stood on his head in the Meteors end, and the first period ended in a scoreless tie.
Fifteen seconds into the second period, Ryan Klumper won the opening draw, and in a play rivaling Bobby Orr, fired the puck from off his knees to get the Meteors up on the scoreboard first. Before the period was over, Klumper would add his second goal of the game, giving Mitchell a comfortable 2-0 lead heading into the third.
In an exciting and action packed final period, and the first penalty would be awarded to the Meteors, which was fended off by the strong blue line efforts of Brayden Hoegy and Elijah Bender. However three minutes in, Elmvale notched their first point of the game, while Bryce Dixon had Mitchell’s fans eagerly cheering him on as he rushed the puck hard into the Coyotes end. Another penalty kill for Mitchell had the wingers of Logan Verberne and Ryan Glauser digging hard along the boards to clear the puck and fend the Coyotes off. Picking up a rebound shot from a scrimmage in front of the Coyotes end, Klumper re-gained the comfortable lead for the Meteors notching his third goal of the game. Not to be defeated, Elmvale took their game to the next level and despite a rainbow shot that landed on top of Mitchell’s net, they later managed to score their second goal, closing the gap to with-in one, with just under four minutes of play remaining. With a trip to the semi-finals on the line, Mitchell’s fans were sitting silently on the edge of their seats, as Elmvale pulled their goalie in the final minute of play. A battle deep in the Meteors end, allowed Mitchell’s fans to finally breathe as Cohen Ahrens cleared the puck out of our end, finding the back of the waiting empty net, and punched the Meteors ticket to the semi-finals of the tournament with a solid 4-2 win over the Coyotes.
Sunday morning in the semi-finals of the tournament, Mitchell held their own against their regular season, league leading, Saugeen Shores Storm. The Meteors got up on the scoreboard first when Charlie Wolfe, , stole the puck at the blue line and fired it through the 5-hole to give the boys a 1-0 lead early in the game. Assists went to Elijah Bender and Bryce Dixon. Despite outstanding goal tending from Carter Miller, the Meteors were unable to find the back of the Storm’s net again, and Mitchell fell to the Storm, very respectfully ending their 2018 Silver Stick run.
Congratulations on a tournament well played boys! You made your hometown proud!!