Last weekend was a busy one for the Mapleton Minto 81’s, with three games in three days.
The weekend was a success, as the 81’s picked up five of a possible six points.
On Jan. 13 the 81’s hosted the Walkerton Capitals, who were in need of a win to help them in their quest for the final playoff spot.
The game was a chippy affair, with a lot of penalties.
The 81’s came out strong and took a 2-0 lead to the dressing room after the first period. The second period was a better period for Walkerton, but the 81’s matched them goal for goal and the score after two periods was 4-2.
A scoreless third period gave the 81’s a hard fought 4-2 victory. Goal scorers for the 81’s were Curtis Pinder (2), Adam Dejong and Dan Richardson. Assists were picked up by Andrew Whalen (2), Mike Lankshear, TJ Fergus, Kyle Handsaeme, Abe Herbst, Brent Cochrane and Richardson.
Durham visited the 81’s for a Saturday night game in Drayton on Jan. 14.
The visitors came out strong this game and took a 3-1 lead to the dressing room after one period.
Both teams scored two in the second to leave Durham with a 5-3 lead heading into the third.
The 81’s played a strong third period and scored the only two goals, sending the game to overtime with the teams tied at 5-5.
Mapleton Minto’s Todd Norman scored the game winner with only 7.9 seconds remaining in overtime. Other 81’s goal scorers were Cochrane (2), Simon Johnson, Dejong and Herbst. Assists were added by Dejong (2), Pinder, Whalen, Devon McGuire, Herbst and Mike Fisher.
The 81’s then travelled to Dundalk to take on the Shelburne Muskies on Jan. 15.
The 81’s jumped out to a fast start, scoring the first goal of the game and taking a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
The second period belonged to the 81’s, who scored the only two goals in the period to lead 4-1 after two periods. Shelburne took advantage of a tired 81’s team and scored three goals in the third to tie the game at 4-4 and send it to overtime.
Unfortunately Shelburne scored halfway into the overtime period to take a 5-4 victory. Fisher, Brett Nichol, Richardson and Dejong scored for the 81’s and assists were picked up by Pinder (2), Herbst (2), Norman and Steve Metzger.
The 81’a host the Saugeen Shores at the Palmerston Arena on Jan. 22 at 1pm.
The following Saturday, Jan. 28, the 81’s host Ripley, also at the Palmerston Arena, at 8pm.
