COMMUNITY 6 / BETHEL 2
Community opened the game with a powerplay goal late in the first period after Trent Lutz slid a pass across the ice to defence partner Josh Martin, who blasted a shot through the crowd. Cal Martin buried the rebound.
Bethel tied the game before the period ended. Steve Wideman and Matt Smith set up Mike Seiling, who split through the defence and snapped the puck into the top corner.
Community took a 2-1 lead to open the second. Once again the defensive pair of Lutz and Martin set up the play, this time for Kevin Gingrich, who cut to the net, skated across the crease and knifed a backhander into the webbing.
Community added an insurance goal to start the third period after Lutz and Gingrich set up Tony Martin, who went to the net and sent a wrist shot over the glove of the netminder.
After setting up the first three Community goals, Lutz rushed to the net and scored with a backhander to make the score 4-1. Nick Stevens earned an assist on the play.
Bethel came back with a powerplay goal when Kyle Martin teed up Tim Bauman, who blasted a slap shot through the crowd and to the back of the net.
Community put the game away however, with two quick goals. Jamie Martin single handedly turned a loose puck in the neutral zone into an unassisted goal. He then worked with Rick Brubacher to set up Ryan Freeman for the final goal.
Community outshot Bethel 32-14, and now leads the best-of-three ‘B’ division final 1-0.
DRAYTON 7 / FLORADALE 5
A hard fought first period resulted in two goals for Drayton late in the period. Herman Mulder and Dave Mulder worked the puck to the net and Pat Landman snapped the rebound into the open corner.
Tight play along the blue line shortly after had Rich Robous deny a Floradale clearing attempt. Then Robyn Curry moved the puck to Mark Timmerman, who snapped a wrist shot into the far side to make it 2-0.
Floradale made it 2-1 after Ryan Martin set up Brendon Jefferson, who wired a shot into the top corner for the goal.
Shortly after, the two teams exchanged goals within a minute. Scott VanOostveen set up Herman Mulder for the Drayton goal, and Dan Martin set up Tim Freeman for the Floradale goal, to make the score 3-2 for Drayton.
Floradale tied the game midway through the period when Tim Freeman gained the puck on the forecheck and set up Dan Martin for a wrist shot into the net.
However, the tie was short lived. Drayton came back to take the 4-3 lead in the very next shift. Pat Landman and Eric Dekkers set up Rob DeWeerd for a screened shot in along the left post.
Late in the period Drayton added another. After a big save by Kevin Ottens in the Drayton net, Timmerman sent Dekkers away with a two-on-one rush. A pass across the ice gave Herman Mulder a shot into the open corner.
Floradale came back with a powerplay goal midway through the third to make it 5-4. Freeman and Dan Martin set up Tim Martin, who blasted a slap shot through the crowd to score the goal.
Floradale kept working and was rewarded with the tying goal after Gary and Willis Martin created a scramble at the net and Freeman flipped the rebound over the shoulder of Ottens.
Both teams fought hard for the next goal. And it was Drayton who regained the lead. Rob Stevens and Pat Landman centred a pass to Dave Mulder, who slapped at the puck to send it into the open corner.
Floradale pulled their goaltender for the extra skater in the final minute of play, but Drayton’s Dekkers gained control of the puck and fired it into the empty net to make the final score 7-5.
Floradale outshot Drayton 41-38. The win gives Drayton a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five ‘A’ division championship series.
