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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-02-08, Page 2626 Signal Star • Wednesday, February 8, 2017 Flyers unexpectedly win firs Richard Madge Last Saturday's upset 3-2 win by the Goderich Flyers over the Mitchell Hawks in the first game in the opening round of the Provincial Junior 1 lockey League playoffs was a surprise for a lot of people. Statistics play a big part in sports these days, not only in the pro leagues, but even in junior hockey. The PO IL uses an on-line program called "Pointstreak" for its statistics and prior to the beginning of the playoff series between the Flyers and Hawks, the stats didn't seem to give the Flyers much of a chance of even win- ning one game. Mitchell had won five of their six regular season meetings and in head- to-head play, the Hawks had three players with 15 points each, while the Flyers had only two players with five points. The Hawks had scored a total of 44 goals in those games compared to the Flyer's 17, making the average score 7.3 goals to 2.8 in favour of the Hawks. The Hawk's powerplay was successful 33% of the time, the Flyer's 18%, and so on. Not much there to inspire Flyer's coach David Err- ington's pre -game speech p ayoff game Photos by Andy Bader/Postmedia Network Tyler McCracken (25) of the Goderich Flyers battles Mitchell's Drew Gross for the puck at the blueline during Game 1 of their PJHL Pollock Division quarter -final Saturday, a 3-2 Flyers' win. going in, bur Errington did have one conviction that he has maintained throughout the latter part of the season - that if the Flyers stuck to their game -plan and stayed out of the penalty box, playing five - on -five they could compete with any team in the league, and that's what happened Saturday night in Mitchell. Bridge scores The Goderich Duplicate Bridge Club meets weekly at Trinity Christian Church. Mentor games are on Mondays and the regu- lar ACBL game are on Tuesdays. All games are at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 24 - seven tables with David Deaves directing. Winners are: First: Graham Yeats and Bob Dick - 62.91% Second: Maria and David Deaves - 56.79% Third: Eleanor Erskine and John Archbold - 55.84% Fourth: Pat Lewington and Brenda Blair - 54.64% Fifth: Nel Dunthorne and Cal Scotchmer - 53.93% Sixth: Anne O'Donnell and Gay Reynolds '- 52.86% Monday, January 23 - mentor game. First: Rose Ann Morris and Dave MacLaren - 57.68% Second: Mary Lynne Tel- ford and Joyce Zimmerman - 57.25% Third: Kate and Bill Teall - 56.68% Fourth: Willy Simpson and Marilyn Thomas - 56.50% Tuesday, January 17 - eight tables with David Deaves directing. First: Eleanor Erskine and John Archbold - 64.29% Second: Jouce Zimmer- man and Paul Spittall - 57.44% Third: Nel Dunthorne and Charles Rogers - 56.25% Fourth: and Graham Yeats and Bob Dick Fifth: Maria and David Deaves - 55.65% Sixth: Barb Howe and Marian Lane - 55.06% The Flyers played disci- plined hockey taking only two minor penalties in the game. They also got stellar goaltending, the other impor- tant part of playoff hockey, to take a one game lead in the best -of seven series. Riley Connors got the Flyers off to a good start scoring on a play with Jack Francis less.than Nathan Watson (31) of the Goderich Flyers flashes the leather to rob Mitchell Hawks' Nathan Templeman (20) from point blank range during first period action of Game 1 in their Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) Pollock Division quarter -final series on Saturday, Feb. 4 at the Mitchell Arena. Watson made 41 saves in a 3-2 Flyers win. one minute into the game fol- lowing a Mitchell turnover. Defenceman Morgan Benni- wies, assisted by Trent Michie and Mitch Newson, made it 2-0 on a point shot that deflected in off a.Mitchell player in front of the net, but Drew Gross got one back for the Hawks to make the score 2-1 at the end of the first period. The Hawk's Blake Pickering tied the score at two, getting the only second period goal off a rebound in front of Watson. The third period went score- less until, with overtime loom- ing large, the Flyer's Jack Francis scored at the 18:55 mark to win the game for the Flyers. Tyler McCracken and Riley Connors assisted on the game -winning goal. In that third period, the Hawks out - shot the Flyers 21-7 making Nate Watson the busiest man in the rink and the star of the game. On the night, the Hawks had a 43-22 edge in shots. Coach Errington credited forward Noah Kuno with play- ing his best game of the year, even though his name doesn't appear on the score sheet. Err- ington also felt Mitchell Kelling- ton showed leadership on the back end with his spirited play and avoidance of penalties. The one nasty bit of the piece came mid -way through the third period when the Hawk's McKenzie Carter was banished for a check -from - behind that put Flyer defence - man Brad Watson out of the game. The Flyers were unable to score on the ensuing five minute powerplay, but nei- ther team managed a power- play goal in the game. The second game of the series was scheduled for last night (Tuesday, Febru- ary 7) at the MRC, with game three to be played in Mitchell, Friday, February 10, and game four here at the MRC at 7:30 pm, Satur- day, February 11. Game six, if necessary, would be Tuesday, Febru- ary .14 at the MRC at 8:15 pm. This season marks the 50th year of the Mitchell Hawk's franchise in junior hockey and the team had planned to make it a big one by spending a pile of money to acquire several former Junior "B" players, with the aim of win- ning a championship. The Flyers will be continu- ing to try to slow down that victory parade. West Coast Blues donates to Flyers Pictured here is a donation by the West Coast Blues to the Goderich Flyers for over $3000. From Left to Right Tyler McCracken Capt; Dan Kerr, Goderich Flyers; John Harrison, West Coast Blues; Trent Michie, Asst Capt; Brody Tenpas, Asst Capt; Riley Conners, Asst Capt; and Myles Murdock, West Coast Blues.