DRAYTON 8 – FLORADALE 4
A pair of quick goals in the first and third period made the difference in this game and gave Drayton the series-opening win in the best-of-five ‘A’ Division final.
Floradale grabbed the opening goal midway through the first period after Dan Martin sprang Tim Freeman loose with a pass at the blue line. Freeman cut across the crease and snapped a low shot along the ice to beat netminder Kevin Ottens.
Drayton came back later in the period with two quick goals within a span of ten seconds. Jerry Robous and Eric Dekkers set up Mark Timmerman for a wrist shot for the tying goal.
Then Robous sent a pass to Dekkers for a rising wrist shot underneath the crossbar to take the 2-1 lead.
A face-off deep in the Floradale zone gave Gary Martin a rush down the ice with only seven seconds on the clock. Martin crossed the blue line and rifled a slap shot through the pads to tie the game 2-2 as the buzzer ended the period.
Drayton took the lead again to open the second when Robous sent a pass to Robyn Curry, who crossed the blue line and rifled a slap shot over the glove of netminder Jason Newton. Drayton padded its lead late in the period. Robous stopped a Floradale rush with a pass into the neutral zone to Dekkers, who crossed the blue line and scored on a slap shotto make the score 4-2.
Drayton opened the third with another quick goal. Timmerman and Curry worked the puck deep to Dekkers, who drifted across the crease and fired a shot into the opposite corner.
Drayton put the game away with two quick goals by Rob Stevens and Rob DeWeerd – this time in a span of five seconds – to make the score 7-2. Assists were earned by DeWeerd and Scott VanOostveen.
Floradale came back a minute later to try and stop the bleeding. Willis Martin set up Dan Martin to make it 7-3.
The teams traded goals in the final minute but the game was already decided. VanOoostveen assisted on Dekkers goal for Drayton and Ryan Martin set up Gary Martin for the Floradale goal.
COMMUNITY 8 – MISSIONARY 3
This one-game ‘B’ Division qualifier was a do or die game for both teams.
Missionary scored from the opening face-off to grab an early 1-0 lead. Chris Hubers scored the goal, assisted by Matt Duff and Travis Becker.
Community’s Tony Martin tied the game midway through the period, assisted by Kevin Gingrich. Community then took the 2-1 lead when Rick Brubacher started the play, Gerald Martin snapped a shot on net and Chris Metzger scored on the rebound.
A powerplay late in the period gave Community the 3-1 lead. Kevin Gingrich and Josh Martin created a scramble at the net and Tony Martin finished the play with a shot into the open corner.
Community added another midway through the second after a Missionary clearing attempt bounced off a skate and gave Gerald Martin the opportunity to drive to the net and snap a wrist shot into the top corner.
Community connected for one more goal in the second to make it 5-1. Nick Stevens and Tony Martin set up Kevin Gingrich, who fired a quick shot for the goal.
Community added a short handed goal midway through the third to put the game away. Jerry Martin sprang Gingrich loose for a breakaway rush. Gingrich skated to the net and slipped a back hander into the top corner.
Missionary’s Dennis Gleeson scored on the same powerplay, assisted by Adam Deen.
However, Community added two more goals to finish the solid win. Metzger and Tony Martin scored, with assists by Gingrich and Stevens.
Community now advances to the best-of-three ‘B’ Division final against Bethel.
