The Mapleton-Minto 81’s have opened the season with a record of 3 wins 4 losses and 2 overtime losses for a total of 8 points. The league is very competitive this season with any team capable of winning on any given night. All of the games to date have been close, with the team competing well in every game. The 81’s earned their wins against Shallow Lake, Lucknow and Elora , and lost in overtime to Durham and Ripley.
The 81’s most recent game was played on Sunday November 27, in Elora. The game was fast paced and was tied 5-5 at the end of regulation time. Goal scorers during regulation time were John Thiel and Brett Nichol with 2 apiece, while Devon McGuire added a single goal. Danny Vaughan and Todd Norman each had 3 assists, with Thiel, Brent Cochrane, Mike Lankshear and Abe Herbst each contributing with one assist.
Since neither team could score in overtime, a shootout was required. Nichol scored on both of his shots and Kyle Leavey made some nice saves to leave the shootout tied at two apiece. Norman broke the deadlock on his second shot of the shootout, and Leavey made one more key save to give the team a 6-5 shootout win.
The team currently sits in 7th place in the WOAA Senior AA league’s Northern Division. The 81’s have only played 9 games to date and trail the Shallow Lake Crushers and Ripley Wolves, both of which have 11 points, but Shallow Lake has already played 12 games and Ripley has played 11 games.
Todd Norman is leading the team in scoring with 15 points while John Thiel leads the team in goals, with 7. League standings and team statistics and can be viewed at the WOAA league website at www.woaasrhockey.com.
The next home game is December 3 at 8 pm in Clifford, for a rematch with Saugeen Shores. The 81’s are on the ice for a game on Sunday December 4 against Durham, which is being played in Palmerston and starts at 2 pm.
