The Mapleton Minto 81’s are facing elimination this weekend, after falling behind 3-1 in their best-of-seven first round playoff series with the Durham Thundercats.
Game one
The 81’s finished fifth in the competitive north division of the WOAA Senior ‘AA’ Hockey League, while the Thundercats finished fourth.
It was expected to be a close series as the 81’s had one win, one loss and one overtime loss in the season series with Durham.
On Feb. 3 the Thundercats came to Palmerston to face the 81’s for game one. Durham came out strong and took a 2-0 lead after the first period and a 5-0 lead after two, en route to a 5-1 victory.
Todd Norman scored the only goal for the 81’s, with assists going to TJ Fergus and Curtis Pinder.
Game two
The next two games of the series were played in Durham. The Thundercats again came out strong in game two, building a 3-0 lead midway into the second period.
Dan Vaughan scored an unassisted goal for the 81’s to bring the score to 3-1. Pinder added another goal, with helpers from Simon Johnson and Adam Dejong, to make the score 3-2.
But Durham replied with a goal of their own to take a 4-2 lead into the second intermission. Norman and Vaughan set up Dan Richardson make it 4-3 with nine minutes left in the third, but Durham got two more goals to seal a 6-3 win.
Game three
Facing a 2-0 deficit to the Thundercats, the 81’s travelled to Durham on Feb. 10 hoping to get back into the series.
For the first time in the series, the 81’s came out strong, and took a 3-1 lead after one period.
Durham came out strong in the second but the 81’s took a 4-3 lead into the dressing room after two periods.
Durham poured 19 shots at 81’s goalie Kyle Leavey in the third, but could not get anything by him, giving the 81’s a 4-3 victory and making the series 2-1 for Durham.
Mapleton Minto goal scorers were Kyle Handsaeme, Richardson, John Thiel and Norman with the game winner. Thiel picked up two assists and singles were added by Norman, Brett Nichol, Devin McGuire, Vaughan and Matt McCann.
Game four
The 81’s hosted the Thundercats for game 4 on Feb. 12, hoping to even the series at two games apiece.
Durham scored the first goal of the game, but the 81’s evened the score at 1-1.
The 81’s then scored to take a 2-1 lead midway in the second period, but Durham tied the game at two.
Once again the 81’s scored to take a 3-2 lead with 4:34 left in the second. However Durham would not be denied and scored a shorthanded goal at 2:55, and soon after that capitalized on another opportunity to take a 4-3 lead.
Unfortunately for the 81’s the game finished with the score 4-3, and Durham taking a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Game five of the series is in Durham on Feb. 17 at 8:30pm. If a sixth game is necessary it will be played in Palmerston on Feb. 18 at 8:30pm.
In the event a seventh game is necessary it will be played in Durham on Feb. 19 at 5:30pm.
