The
Milverton Four Wheel Drives continued their current homestand with a visit from the Minto 81’s . The team
looked to be rested and eager for some top notch hockey action. Hopefully, the
jolly man in the red suit treated the players well and that the spirit(s) of
the season wouldn’t have any lingering effects. Time would tell ....
The two teams
last met in Palmerston in October with the Drives on the losing end of an 8-6
score . Both teams are evenly matched , however Minto has the better season
record and with the Drives playing sound hockey in recent times this contest
would prove to be an exciting and fast square off. Minto would score first at
the six minute mark of the first frame and this would stay for the remainder of
the period. Both teams appeared to be suffering from the after effects of a
joyous holiday season as the usual intensity and vocal performances were
glaringly absent on this day. Two more quick scores would give the visitors a
3-0 lead and the situation was looking rather bleak for the black and gold. Tim
Bester played valiantly to keep the score at a manageable level for the
hometown squad until Erik VanderEyk was able to pot his second of the year to
narrow the Minto lead. Quipp and Erb would pick up the assists. The visitors
would reply quickly to take a three goal lead again . Dennis Dewar would get
the Drives within two goals again with Curtis Rawn and Jeff Fritzley gathering
helpers. With the contest turning into a shootout the 81’s would score again to
go ahead 5-2 at 8:29 . Brendan Schneider
would notch his first goal of the year to get the Drives within 2 again . This
time the Drives didn’t allow the opposition to score and add to their lead and kept the score to two.
Third period
action was tightly contested as both teams appeared to have shaken off the rust
and remedied themselves of the lingering effects of egg nog and turkey.
Schneider would pick up his second of the night on a terrific shot from the
house with assists going to Dewar and Curtis Rawn . The rest of the game was
hotly contested with both teams exchanging scoring chances but no scoring until
the 81’s would score to go ahead 6-4 .With 7:41 and lots of hockey left the
Drives made a final push to keep their winning ways intact. Liam Buckley would
notch his second of the year on a great effort pushing his way through the crease to get the Drives within one, Schneider and Connors helping out on the
tally. Setting the scene for a pulse pounding finale was there to be a
Christmas miracle in the making with the team fighting back the entire game?
Alas with Bester out of the net and Drives with the extra attacker the hometown
would fall short on this day by 6-5 defeat.
Drives hit the
road as they travel to Cforth next Saturday ..Drives next home game is Sunday
Jan 14 against the Erin Outlaws . Mark
your calendar for the Drives Alumni Game Jan 20. Forty five and under faceoff
at 4:30 , 45 and over at 5:30 . Drives and Tavi face off at 7 pm . Don’t miss your
opportunity to witness some of the best in Drive hockey nostalgia !!