COMMUNITY 4 MISSIONARY 2
With the NDCHL best-of-three ‘B’ division finals tied 1-1, this was the deciding game. Community struck early in the first period with a goal. A centring pass by Ryco Martin gave Cal Martin a breakaway rush between the two face-off circles. Martin snapped a rising shot into the top left corner to register the goal, assisted also by Gerald Martin.
Community added a second goal minutes later. A scramble at the net ended with John Horst stuffing the puck into the short side. Tony Martin and Lamar Martin assisted.
Missionary came back in the second period. Good forechecking by Pat Landman and Dustin Bults brought the pair in front of the net with the puck. A shot by Bults left Landman to bury the rebound for the only goal in the period.
But Community regained the two-goal spread early in the third. A pass from behind the net by Kevin Gingrich gave John Horst the wide open corner.
Shortly after a rush along the left side gave Rick Brubacher the opportunity to thread a shot into the net to strengthen the Community lead. Jeff Horst and Kyle Wideman assisted.
Missionary pulled their goaltender for an extra forward and it paid off. Dustin Bults fed the puck to Curtis Bults, who came up from behind the net and tucked the puck into the short side corner.
However the effort was too little too late, as Community held on for the win and claimed the Stelco Trophy as ‘B’ Division champions.
DRAYTON 5 – FLORADALE 4
Drayton came into this best-of-five ‘A’ Division championships leading 2-1. And it was Drayton who grabbed the opening goal early in the first period. Herman Mulder took the puck to the net and snapped in his own rebound before the goaltender could cover the puck.
Drayton added a goal in the final minute of the period. Dave Mulder scored the goal with a wrist shot on the right wing, assisted by Herman Mulder.
Floradale edged into the game late in the second period. Ryan and Gary Martin set up Javon Martin all alone at the left corner. Martin deked to his right and flicked the puck into the top left corner.
Floradale went on to tie the game before the period ended. A shot by Javon Martin brought the puck to the left post. Gary Martin knifed the rebound into the top corner for the tying goal, assisted also by Willis Martin.
Willis Martin then gave Floradale the lead with a power play goal early in the third period. Greg Martin assisted.
The lead was short lived however, as Eric Decker stormed back with two goals within a minute to give Drayton back the lead. Scott Nieuwland, Jason Mohle and Herman Mulder assisted.
Floradale came back to tie the game again with a powerplay late in the game.
Andrew Martin slipped a pass across to Josh Brohman at the point. Brohman rifled a slapshot to send the puck to the back of the net.
But Drayton refused to concede and took the lead again. Can Mohle fought hard in the corner, came up with the puck and snapped a shot into the high corner for the winning goal.
Drayton won the ‘A’ division Finals 3-1 and emerged as the Nichol Trophy champions.
