Feb 03, 2015 | Sheri Peet | 594 views
WOAA Neilson Cup Playoffs Begin
This weekend the Atom AE Hyundai Sailors began the round robin portion of the Neilson Cup. The Sailors have been placed in Group A and will play the Listowel Cyclones, Hanover Falcons and Walkerton Capitals to see which team will move on to the final against the winner of Group B. The round robin consists of a home and away game against each team with the team with the most points moving on to the final. The boys’ first game was against the Listowel Cyclones. Listowel won the regular season series 2-0 with a 4-1 win on November 1, 2014 at the Maitland Recreation Centre and a 4-0 win at home on November 11, 2014.
Saturday`s game was a rare 12pm puck drop at the Listowel Arena. The Sailors played well through the first two periods, but struggled in the third resulting in a 5-0 loss. Listowel opened the scoring early in the period taking a 1-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. Late in the period a Cyclones player was called for interference sending the Sailors to the powerplay for the last minute of the period and to start the second. The Sailors were not able to draw even with the man advantage.
The second period was a scoreless with the teams trading chances. Kellen played a solid first half of the game letting in only one goal. Listowel came out strong in the third period scoring four times to build a 5-0 lead. The Sailors continued to have good chances in the third period, but could not beat the Cyclones’ goalie.
Sunday`s game was a regular season make-up game against the Wingham Ironmen. This was the sixth time the two teams had played each other this season. Wingham has won all six games, but the recent games have been close including the two playdown games. With several players feeling under the weather, the Sailors struggled in the game losing 7-1.
The Ironmen opened the scoring in the first period while on the power play. The power play goal was the first the Sailors had allowed in four games. Wingham scored again a little over a minute later to take a 2-0 lead. The Sailors got their own powerplay opportunity late in the period, but could not capitalise on their chances.
The Sailors continued to press in the second period forcing the Wingham goalie to make several good glove saves. Wingham extended their lead midway through the second period to three goals. With less than two minutes to play in the period Noah was sent off for interference, but the Sailors were able to kill off the penalty to end the period and start the third.
Early in the third period Caden was called for head contact and again the Sailors were successful in killing off the penalty. However, the Ironmen scored four times in the third period to build a 7-0 lead including a shorthanded goal late in the period. With nine seconds left in the game the Sailors broke up the shutout. The lone goal for the Sailors was scored by Spencer assisted by Cameron.
Next up for the Sailors is an away game against the Walkerton Capitals. The Sailors only regular season win (6-4) was against the Capitals on November 8, 2014. The other game in the regular season series with Walkerton was a narrow 2-1 loss the following day at the Memorial Arena.
Article Credited to Jim Sherratt