The Larry Hudson Mitchell Midget Reps traveled up to Kincardine once again on Sunday afternoon to complete their double header weekend against the Kinucks in game three of the OMHA playoffs. After Saturday's game, the Kinucks held a strangle hold on the series, up two games. The atmosphere in the building was sobering at best, with very little chatter from the fans at either end of the barn as the boys step onto the ice. Everyone in the building knew, this could possibly be the last game for Mitchell in the 2019/2020 OMHA playoff series, half hoping for and the other half praying not…
As a hush fell over the building, the puck hit the ice announcing the beginning of play. We all watched the clock pass the 32 second mark and with no goals scored yet, there was slight optimism that this could be a better game than the day before. The first period was full of action, with big hits, opportunities and surprisingly… no goals, with both net minders busy keeping the score the same as the game started.
As the second period started, the Mitchell delegation cautiously sensed a different team had come to play Sunday. At the 9:51 mark of the second, Mitchell would take the first lead ever this year playing against the Kinucks. Eric Gettler would initiate the play, sending the puck up to Connor Lockhart, who would expertly pass it to Connor MacLean, who would skillfully returned the pass back to Lockhart and the first goal was on the board 1-0. Just minutes later at 7:08 Wyatt Huitema snipes a pass to Lockhart who precariously threads the needle across the slot to Seth Huygen, who sends the puck top shelf, giving hope to the visiting team and ending the second 2-0.
The third starts with Kincardine coming out strong and dominating and getting rewarded for their efforts half way through the third. With the play in Mitchell's end, they created mayhem in front of Bell and the puck slithers past him making it 2-1. An eerie shift in the momentum of the game can be felt throughout the building, knowing our hosts maybe just getting started. As the clock becomes the enemy, Kincardine pulls their goalie and Mitchell takes another penalty. With a 6 on 4 advantage, the Kinucks misplay the puck in Mitchell's end and Braydon Vosper is quick to capitalize on it, moving it to Gettler who in turn sends it to Raymond Horan who skillfully sends it towards the empty net, final score 3-1.
What a monumental achievement for the underdogs to beat this team. Next rendezvous with his team is this weekend, with game 4 Saturday night at 8pm in Mitchell.