The McDonald’s Novice Rep started their best of five playoff round facing the Saugeen Shores Storm on Thursday Feb. 14th at the MRC. The game started with the Storm coming out strong and the Sailors struggling to find their game playing on the big ice for the first time of the season. The first period would go scoreless but early in the second Goderich would get on the board with a goal from Darren Lockie assisted by Ashley Bakker and Ben Derrough. Just one minute later Goderich would notch another when Megan Johnston made a full ice rush beating the Storm goaltender. The game would then go scoreless until only 47 sec. were remaining and Ben Derrough scored an empty netter assisted by Bayden Parent. Excellent goaltending and the shutout from Liam Shore stopping several breakaways and numerous shots allowed Goderich to get the win with a final score of 3 – 0.
On Saturday Feb. 16th the Novice Rep team would travel to Port Elgin for game 2 of the series. The Sailors were ready for this meeting and quickly got on the board going on to score three goals in the first period. The Storm came out early in the second to get on the scoreboard at 7:04 which would turn out to be the only goal for the period with solid goaltending at both ends. But the Sailors weren’t done and came out putting the pressure on which would soon pay off with a goal at 12:46 of the third and another just 20 sec. later. This would end the scoring to finish up the game with a final score of Goderich 5 Saugeen 1. Scoring for the Sailors was Ben Derrough with the hat trick with single goals to Nate Helesic and Megan Johnston. Assisting on the goals were Darren Lockie (2), Ashley Bakker (2) and Kyle Larkin with a single.
The Novice Rep would lose the flip for game three and head back to play Friday Feb. 22nd in Southampton. The Sailors were up and ready for the challenge to win the series coming out strong scoring just 34 sec. into the game. The Sailors would go on to score two more in the period and keeping the Storm off the board. Good defensive play and goaltending would keep both teams off the board in the second. Early in the third penalty trouble would strike both teams with the Storm getting a power play goal and the Sailors answering back with the same just minutes later. The Sailors would go on to get one more before the period would end giving them the game by a score of 5 – 1 and winning the series three games straight. Goaltending, defensive and offensive play all came together for a great series after getting off to a slow start. Scoring for the Sailors in Game 3 were Ben Derrough (4) and Nate Helesic (1) with assists to Ashley Bakker (2), Cameron Brenner, Bayden Parent and Kyle Larkin with singles.