Local hockey teams keep playoff hopes alive - March 7, 2019
BY DENNY SCOTT
Local teams continued with their playoff drives over the past week, with Blyth Brussels Crusaders and Huron Heat squads fighting to stay in the postseason.
BLYTH BRUSSELS CRUSADERS
The Novice Rep Crusaders posted a win and a loss against the West Grey Warriors over the past week, beating the Warriors 4-2 in Normanby on March 1, but then losing a home game against the team 5-3 in Blyth on March 2.
The squad also faced off against the Arthur Vipers this week in back-to-back game days, starting in Arthur on March 5 and back in Brussels on March 6. No score was available at press time for either game.
The Atom Local League Black Crusaders posted a 5-1 win over the Huron-Bruce Blizzard on March 2 in Brussels and will next face off against the Zurich Thunder in Zurich on March 8.
The Atom Local League Burgundy Crusaders fell to the Mitchell Meteors on March 2 in Brussels and were bested 5-0 by the BCH Ice Dogs 2 on Feb. 27 in Hensall. The squad also faced off against the BCH Ice Dogs 1 on March 4, but a score was unavailable at press time. The team next takes on the Mitchell Meteors in Elma Logan on March 9 at 4 p.m.
The Atom Rep Crusaders extended their post-season winning streak to four with a win over the Central Perth Predators in Blyth on March 1. The squad took on the Predators again on March 4, but a score was unavailable at press time.
The PeeWee Local League Crusaders were bested by the Goderich Sailors 2 squad 5-4 on March 3 and faced off against the Mitchell Meteors on March 5 and the Minto Mad Dogs on March 6, but scores were unavailable at press time.
The PeeWee Rep squad continued a disappointing postseason, being handed their seventh and eighth straight postseason losses against the Huron Bruce Blizzard on Feb. 27 and Kincardine Kinucks, respectively. The squad had a chance for redemption on March 6 with a game scheduled against the Blizzard in Blyth. A score was unavailable at press time.
The Bantam Local League team faced off against the Central Perth Predators twice this week, visiting Milverton on March 4 and hosting the Predators on March 6, but scores were unavailable at press time.
The team next takes on the Wingham Ironmen in Wingham on March 7 at 8:30 p.m.
The Bantam Rep Crusaders earned a 2-0 win against the TCDMHA Rebels in Brussels on Feb. 27, then tied the Minto Mad Dogs 2-2 on March 3. The squad faced off against the Saugeen Shores Storm on March 4 in Blyth, however a score was unavailable at press time.
The Midget Local League team earned a mark in every column over the past week, besting the Central Perth Predators on Feb. 28 on the road, drawing with the Huron-Bruce Blizzard 4-4 in Brussels on March 2 and losing 5-1 against Blizzard in Lucknow on March 3. The squad faced off against the Predators on March 4 and the Listowel Cyclones on March 6, but scores were unavailable as of press time.
The Midget AE Crusaders fell to the Mitchell Meteors AE squad in Blyth on March 3. The team next takes on the Walkerton Capitals AE squad on March 8 at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre at 8 p.m. before travelling to Mitchell for a rematch against the Meteors on March 10.
Finally, the Midget Rep Crusaders posted a 4-3 win over the Kincardine Kinucks on Feb. 27. The squad also faced off against the BCH Ice Dogs on March 2, but a score was unavailable at press time.
For more information, visit
blythbrusselsminorhockey.ca.
HURON HEAT
The Novice B Heat continued its Lower Lakes Female Hockey League (LLFHL) playoff run, triumphing 3-2 over the South Huron Sabres in the squad’s third match against the Sabres. The win gave the team a 2-1 series victory over the Sabres.
The Atom A squad had a rough week, losing 1-0 to the Stratford Aces and 5-2 against the Saugeen Maitland Lightning in Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) action on March 2 and 3 respectively. The team next continues its LLFHL drive with a three-game series against the Woodstock Wildcats, starting March 19 in Woodstock.
The Atom C squad continued its OWHA playoff run with losses against the Stratford Aces (3-1 on March 2) and the Upper Maitland Mustangs (2-0 on March 3), but also faced off against the South Huron Sabres on March 5. A score was unavailable at press time for that match.
In the team’s Western Ontario Girl’s Hockey League playoff round-robin, the Atom C squad fell to the Waterloo Ravens 1-0 on Feb. 28 and faced off against the West Oxford Inferno on March 6. A score for the latter game was unavailable at press time.
The Atom C Heat are next on the ice against the Mitchell Meteors on March 16.
The Atom HL squad posted a 2-2 tie against the Lucan Irish HL on Feb. 26 in the WOGHL playoff round-robin. The squad will have a rematch against the Irish on March 9 in Lucan.
The PeeWee BB Heat rebounded from a game one loss in a best-of-three series against the Bluewater Hawks, posting victories on the road (4-0) and at home in Central Huron (2-0) on March 2 and 3, respectively. The squad now looks to the third round of the LLFHL playoffs.
The PeeWee C Heat continued their OWHA playdowns with a 3-2 win over the South Huron Sabres on Feb. 27. The team started its run in the WOGHL playoff round-robin on March 5 with a game against the South Huron Sabres C squad in Zurich. A score was unavailable at press time. The team next takes on the North Middlesex Jr. Stars in Seaforth on March 9 at 2 p.m.
The Bantam BB Heat sought to settle a best-of-three series tied at one each with the Stratford Aces on March 3 in Central Huron. A score was unavailable at press time.
The Bantam C Heat continued its OWHA winning streak, posting a 3-2 win over the South Huron Sabres in Brussels on March 1 and a 4-0 win over the Central Perth Predators in Milverton on March 3. The squad’s next scheduled game is a WOGHL playoff round-robin match against the Kent County Fillies in Ridgetown on March 17.
The Midget BB Heat squad broke a two-game stalemate with the Wallaceburg Lakers with a 2-0 win on March 2. Previously, the teams had tied 1-1 on Feb. 25 and 2-2 on March 1 in LLFHL action.
The Midget C squad was bested by the Kent County Fillies C on Feb. 28. The team played against the Lucknow/Wingham 86ers on March 4 and the South Huron Sabres on March 5, but scores were unavailable at press time. The squad next faces off against the St. Thomas Panthers C squad in the WOGHL playoff round-robin in St. Thomas on March 8.
The Senior Heat lost to the St. Mary’s Rock on the road on Feb. 28 by a score of 3-0, but rebounded with a 7-1 win over Parkhill on March 2. The team faced off against Exeter on March 3, but a score was unvailable at press time.
For more information, visit huronheat.com.