The Terry’s Auto Service Mitchell Midget AE’s travelled to Clinton where the BCH Icedogs hosted them on Saturday evening.
The Mitchell boys had not played for almost two weeks and it certainly showed during the first two periods of the game. Not only did this lack of play prior to this match up hamper their level of play, the missed calls and being short handed most of the game from some very questionable calls made it very difficult for Mitchell to establish any momentum.
The first period was painfully slow to watch as a spectator and uneventful for the scorekeeper as both teams felt each other out, however the penalty box certainly got a work out for the Mitchell players as Mitchell played well over half the first period short handed while their adversaries were unscathed from the same fate. At the end of the first with some opportunities at either end of the ice and some luck, the game remained tied at zero.
The second period witnessed the same lacklustre urgency to play the game with the only positive being Mitchell would only visit the penalty box once during the second 15 minutes of play. As the clock ended the second, the game would remain tied at zero.
Thank goodness hockey has a third period as this game and score would finally change, however the Mitchell’s parade to the penalty box would not and would remain ridiculously lop-sided once again in the third. With numerous 3 on 5’s for our hosts to capitalize on, Mitchell finally received a break and put the first point on the board when Josh Eidt one timed a beauty from Solomon Koert and Darren Feltz near the 10 minute mark of the third to end the stale mate. Even with the continuous merciless on slaught of countless penalties, the Mitchell boys managed to hold their league rivals scoreless and next was Devin Fenwick, who blasted one from the point with helpers going to both Jake Monden and Evan Morrison. The trio Morrison, Jackson MacArthur and Fenwick while playing on yet another 5 on 3, would capitalize on an open net for the shortie and end the scoring for the game at 3-0 for Mitchell.
Special mention needs to go to Ryan Bell, who through many non calls of stupidity, was still able to get the shut out for Mitchell and help give the platform the boys needed to win the game.
Mitchell takes an early lead in this series at one, giving them the first two points of the series. Just as a side note, OMHA playoffs winners are determined by points, first team to earn 6 points earns the right to move on. A win counts as 2 points and a tie counts 1 point apiece, first team to 6 points moves on.
This OMHA league rival playoff match up meets again to play their second game in Mitchell Friday, Feb 1@ 9:15pm followed again in Mitchell on Sunday Feb 3@9pm, hope to see you there to support the boys as this series is just getting started folks and promises to be a good one……