Community gets overtime win in semi-final game one

COMMUNITY 4 – FLORADALE 3

Both teams were eager to score the opening goal in game one of the best-of-three ‘A’ Division semi-finals.

Floradale struck first midway through the opening period when Willis Martin snapped a shot on net and Dan Martin jammed in the rebound.

Community tied the game early in the second period. Good defensive play by Rick Brubacher gave Joe Clemmer a rush down the ice. Clemmer hit the right face-off circle and blasted a shot into the opposite corner.

Community kept the momentum going and added two more goals to take the lead. Tony Martin beat the Floradale goalie with a wrist shot and Ryan (Ryco) Martin tipped in a Clemmer pass for the next goal.

Floradale came back late in the period. A long leading pass by Mike Martin gave Ryan Martin the puck at the Community blue line. Martin skated in on net and deked the goaltender to tuck the puck into the corner.

Floradale pulled their netminder in the final minute for the extra skater. A loose puck along the left boards came to Javon Martin in front of the net. Martin snapped a quick shot to send the puck to the back of the net and the game to sudden death overtime.

But Community eventually prevailed in overtime.

DRAYTON 4 – BETHEL 0

Drayton took an early lead to start off the other ‘A’ Division best-of-three semi-final. Robyn Curry snapped a shot on net and Jason Mohle buried the rebound.

Drayton added another goal before the period ended. Herman Mulder blasted a shot and Mark Timmerman scored on the rebound. Drayton kept up the scoring when Scott Nieuwland set up Rob DeWeerd, who made it 3-0.

Drayton added another goal midway through the third after  Mark Timmerman passed the puck across to Pat Landman, who scored to make it 4-0.

MISSIONARY 8 – LISTOWEL 5

Curtis Bults started the scoring for Missionary midway through the first period. Bults snapped a shot into the goalie’s pads then flicked the rebound into the top corner.

Missionary added another late in the period. Dave Scholten started the play with a pass to Tom Chambers, who cut in front of the net and blasted a shot into the webbing.

However, Listowel came back before the period ended. Phil Shantz worked the puck to the net and Josh Shantz scored.

Missionary padded its lead off the opening face-off of the second period. Rich Colwell stormed the net and Curtis Bults finished the play with the goal, just nine seconds into the second.

Listowel stayed in the game with a power play goal when Lowell Weber moved the puck with a pass to Josh Shantz, who went to the net and caught the netminder sliding across the crease to cover a Listowel skater storming in on net. Shantz flipped the puck into the nearside corner as the opening emerged.

Listowel opened the third period with a goal to tie the game. Brothers Josh and Phil Shantz created a scramble at the net and Andrew Jantzi knifed the puck in for the goal.

A power play later in the third gave Listowel the go-ahead goal. Josh Shantz sent the puck to Phil behind the net. A flick over the shoulder gave Listowel the goal.

But the lead was short lived, as Missionary stormed back for three goals. Devon McGuire, Brady Franklin and Rich Colwell scored, assisted by Nathan Rhame, Dave Arndt and Dylan Bults.

Listowel stayed in the game with a shorthanded goal, but Missionary responded with a power play goal on the same penalty. Phil Shantz scored for Listowel, assisted by Josh Shantz. Rich Colwell scored for Missionary, assisted by Curtis Bults.

Listowel pulled the goaltender for the extra skater in the final minute of play. However, Brady Franklin picked up a loose puck and shot it down the ice for the empty net goal.

The win gives Missionary a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three ‘B’ Division semi-finals.

Game two of the ‘A’ Division semi-finals is next week, with Drayton and Bethel playing at 8pm and Floradale meeting Community at 9pm.  Missionary and Listowel will play game two of the ‘B’ Division semi-finals at 10pm.

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