FLORADALE 5 DRAYTON 4
Floradale scored the opening goal midway through the first. Willis Martin dropped a pass to Corey Wideman who blasted a shot which Ryan Martin deflected over the glove of netminder Kevin Ottens.
Floradale added a second goal with a scramble in the neutral zone. Brandon Martin picked up the puck, stepped over the blue line and fluttered a shot through the crowd to find the back of the net.
Drayton edged into the game early in the second period. Chad Reinders slipped a pass to Brent DeKoning who rifled a slap shot past Jason Newton in net.
Drayton tied the game midway through the period as Dave Mulder tipped the puck into the corner behind Newton, assisted by DeKoning and Scott Nieuwland.
Floradale regained the lead with a power play goal. Nick Martin snapped a shot on net and Brandon Martin buried the rebound. However Drayton quickly evaporated the Floradale lead with two goals in less than a minute. Two long slap shots by DeKoning and Cam Mohle gave Drayton the lead for the first time. Assists were earned by Mark Scholten and Pat Landman.
Floradale tied the game with a goal to start the third period. Dan and Ryan Martin worked the puck deep and Willis Martin snapped a shot in the back door and the game was sent into sudden death overtime.
Drayton was forced into the penalty kill in the second overtime period. Floradale took advantage of the opportunity. Ryan and Tim Martin played keep away and set up Josh Brohman for a backhander into the top corner for the winning goal.
The win gives Floradale a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five A Division Nichol Finals.
COMMUNITY 5 BETHEL 2
Community took the lead late in the first period. Joe Clemmer carried the puck over the blue line and slipped a pass across to Tony Martin, who tipped the puck under the pads of the goalie.
Bethel tied the game midway through the third from a scramble at the net. Sam Altwegg and Brandon Shoemaker worked the puck deep. Caleb Bauman took a pass and slipped the puck under the goalie.
Bethel kept the pressure going. Shoemaker stepped into a loose puck and skated it in on net. A quick shot over the glove of the net minder gave Bethel the lead.
