The Atom Rep Mainstreet Credit Union
Goderich Sailors (2-14-0) played an OMHA playdowns series with the
Mitchell Meteors (8-7-1). The Sailors had lost both of their regular season games against the Meteors 9-1 on Halloween and 5-3 on November 14, 2015. The Sailors lost the series in three
games, but played well.
he first game in the series was held in Mitchell on Wednesday, January 13th, 2016. The series was scheduled to begin the day before, but blowing snow resulted in the game being postponed. Although still poor weather conditions, the Sailors travelled to Mitchell to begin the OMHA playdowns. The Sailors lost 5-2. Although not reflected by the final score, the Sailors played a solid game.
The second game was the next day in Goderich at the Maitland Recreation Centre. The game needed overtime to decide. The Sailors gave up an early goal, but had several good chances to score and tie the game. Gryffin, assisted by Evan and Wesley, scored just after the midway point in the period to tie the game 1-1. However, in the final seconds of the period the Meteors were able to regain their one goal lead.
The two teams traded chances in the first half of the second period. Approaching the middle of the period, the Meteors scored to extend their lead to 3-1, but the Sailors responded with three goals of their own before the period ended to lead 4-3. Iain, assisted by Mitchell and Austin scored the first of the three goals to start the comeback. The second goal came on a scramble in front of the Meteors’ net with Evan putting the rebound past their goaltender. With just over a minute to play, Austin scored assisted by Caeleb to give the Sailors their first lead in the game. As the final minute was winding down Wesley was called for a body contact penalty giving the Meteors their first powerplay of the game.
The Meteors started the third period on the powerplay and with seconds left in the penalty tied the game 4-4. The Sailors got their own powerplay opportunity minutes later with the Meteor player being called for hooking. Despite several good chances the Sailors could not score with the man advantage. With just over five minutes to play in the period the Sailors got another opportunity for the advantage with a Meteor player being called for interference, but again the boys could not capitalise. With just over a minute to play, Caeleb was called for holding giving the Meteors a chance with the man advantage. The Sailors held the Meteors off sending the game to overtime.
The Sailors started overtime on the penalty kill and successfully killed off the remaining time in the penalty. However they could not generate any good chances and only three minutes into overtime the Meteors scored to win 5-4.
The third game was also at the Maitland Recreation Centre on Saturday, January 16th, 2016. The final score was 5-3 for the Meteors. The Meteors scored just over a minute into the game, but the Sailors answered back before the end of the period on a goal by Wesley assisted by Jared and Justin.
The second period was back and forth with chances for both teams, but the score remained tied at 1-1. The Sailors were successful in killing both penalties in the period, an interference penalty to Jared and a bench minor for too many players on the ice.
Less than a minute into the third period Iain got a partial breakaway on the Meteors’ goaltender, but was tripped up by one of their players. As Iain was falling the puck crossed the goal line. After some discussion, the referee ruled it a goal. Evan was credited with an assist on the goal. But the Sailors’ 2-1 lead was brief with the Meteors scoring just 12 seconds later. Less than a minute later the Meteors scored again to lead 3-2.
With just over ten minutes to play in the period, the Sailors got an opportunity to tie the game on a powerplay with a Meteor player being called for tripping. A shorthanded chance by the Meteors resulted in coincidental minors for roughing to Gryffin and a Meteor player. The Sailors were not able to score on the powerplay.
The Sailors were able to convert on their next powerplay opportunity. A Meteor player was called for hooking with the Sailors pressing to come back from the three goal deficit in a critical series deciding game. Only seconds into the powerplay, Mitchell H. scored, assisted by Gryffin to make the score 5-3. Less than a minute later the Meteors were called again for tripping sending the Sailors back to the powerplay. Early in the powerplay, another tripping call against the Meteors gave the Sailors a 5 on 3 opportunity. Despite chances, the Sailors were not able to score.
The Atom Rep Sailors now have a break waiting for other teams before beginning the WOAA Lockridge round robin. The teams in the Lockridge are Central Perth (1-14-1), Seaforth (4-11-1) and Arthur (3-13-0).