FLORADALE 6 DRAYTON 5
Drayton wasted no time in claiming an early lead.
Just over a minute into the game Aaron Keunan blasted a slap shot from the left point for a goal, assisted by Jessie Hoekstra.
Floradale tied it up shortly after. A hard wrist shot from the top of the left face-off circle sent the puck into the net, assisted by Andrew and Gary Martin.
Keunan responded for Drayton with an unassisted goal to regain the lead. A shot from the right side boards beat the net-minder along the short side.
Floradale tied the game again midway through the second with a powerplay goal. Corey Wideman blasted a shot from the point for the goal. Ryan Martin assisted.
The tie was short lived as Drayton regained the lead less than a minute later. A pass in tight to Hoekstra gave him a shot into the short side corner. Darrin Mohle assisted.
Floradale stormed the Drayton end and was rewarded with the goal. A fight for the puck in close in front of the net had Javan Martin flip the puck over the shoulder of the goaltender.
Drayton took the lead early in the third with a power play. A wrist shot by Hoekstra sent the puck into the glove side corner. Eric Decker and Aaron Keunan assisted.
Floradale came from behind yet again to even the score. Corey Wideman skated hard along the left side boards, cut in on net and tucked the puck into the short side corner, assisted by Ryan Martin.
With only 1:16 left to play Drayton took the lead again. Eric Decker finished a scramble at the net by slipping the puck under the net minder in what looked like it would be the winning goal.
But with 30 seconds left a clean face-off win deep in the Drayton end sent the game into sudden death overtime. Gary Martin scored the goal, assisted by Clinton Dechert and Andrew Martin.
The tie stayed in place until the fourth overtime period. Then a scramble at the net ended the game. Floradale’s Javan Martin found the spot, assisted by Corey Wideman.
The win gives Floradale a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five ‘A’ Division Finals.
COMMUNITY 4 MISSIONARY 1
Community grabbed the first goal midway through the opening period. Graham Wideman blasted a shot from the blue line, assisted by Colin Snyder.
Community added to its lead late in the second. John Horst skated the puck through the face-off circles and snapped a rising wrist shot over the blocker for the goal, assisted by Kyle Wideman.
Missionary came back with a goal early in the third. Scott Vandepas snapped the puck into the goaltender pads and buried his own rebound for the unassisted goal.
Community responded with a pair of goals in less than a minute to put the game away. Kevin Gingrich snapped a wrist shot behind the goaltender and Gerald Martin scored on a slap shot. Assists were earned by Wideman and Horst.
The win advances Community to the best-of-three ‘B’ Division Finals against Listowel.
