The Walkerton Capitals would host their first game of the
playoffs vs. the Drayton Defenders Black #2 team on Monday, February 13th. The highly spirited game would see the two
teams back and forth throughout the evening.
The first period and both teams came out with a lot of speed and jump. Each team would test the others goalie early and often but the two net-minders were ready and up to the task. As time was winding down Walkerton crashed the net and were rewarded when Jack Walter jumped on a rebound with 1:23 remaining and slid the puck into the open corner of the Drayton net. Assists were credited to Wes Hunt and Owen Young. Walkerton would lead 1-0 after the first 10 minutes.
Walkerton would increase its lead 1:28 into the second period when Logan Bradley came out from behind the net and slid the puck into the goal crease where Mason Lina was able to poke the puck past the Drayton goalie. The two teams would continue their battles from one end of the ice to the other. The Drayton Defenders would cut the lead in half after a forward slid the puck into the Walkerton net after a goal mouth scramble with 1.1 seconds remaining. Walkerton lead 2-1 after two periods.
The third period started and Walkerton again came out quickly when Carson Baglole put a wrist shot past the Drayton net-minder. The Drayton offence would then kick it into high gear and score two goals in less than a minute to tie the score at three. The Walkerton coaching staff called a time out to settle the boys down and remind them that working as a team got them here in the first place. The boys must have taken their words to heart because just a few moments later Jack Walter would unleash a high rising shot that beat the Defenders net-minder glove side. The scoring would continue when Mason Lina sent a pass to Logan Bradley in front of the net and his backhand shot would find the back of the net. Walkerton would wrap up the scoring when Jack Walter completed his hat trick with 3:39 remaining assists credited to Wes Hunt and Carson Baglole.
A great first game as the playoffs started the boys found some adversity from a tough Drayton team but came back and played well as a team to record the victory.
WALKERTON CAPITALS DRAYTON BLACK #2
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