Halifax Floor Hockey Leaguethis is Billy Concarney here to tell you a story about 4 teams who met one night, ok last Monday night, to try and make it to the big dance.
Lets take look and see how things went down.
First semi final of the night saw the Sabres facing off against the Chill. The Chill were favoured to win this one as they had the by far better record of the two teams during the season. The sabres were no slouch either though. they were better than their record and Keven P always comes alive in the play offs.
the ball dropped and the Chill came out fast. they scored not one, but two and really dominated especially at the beginning. Kane had to keep his team in the game a few times. Highmore, who was feeling a bit unsettled was also making some great saves.
The second period saw a shift as the Sabres came out running and they kept the Chill at bay by clogging up the middle. They scored 3 unanswered goals and after two carried a 3-2 lead into the third.
This was the bigger surprise. The Sabres came out fast picking up a two goal lead when Ryan Sampson found a spot over Highmore's shoulder to start the ball rolling. But unfortunately for the Chill, it was rolling down hill. They seemed to shut down or maybe the Sabres just stifled them. But whatever it was, the Sabres kept coming and were rewarded a total of 3 times. The Chill could not answer back and as a result, the Sabres pulled off an small upset to advance to the finals vs the...You will have to read the next to find out.
Sabres win 6-2
The much anticipated meeting of the 2nd place Hackers and the 3rd place Fire was up next.
this game was a doozie!
Both teams played hard and clean. The first saw the Hackers draw first blood when Louis Brill notched a goal from Adam Healy.
But the Fire came right back when rookie Myles Raymond found a hole off a pass from Rob Tyrrell to even it up. But the Hackers replied with their second when Matt Strum, the leagues rookie sensation/ball hog scored unassisted to take the lead back. 2-1 Hackers after the first
The second saw the Fire come out hard as they scored two early period gaols. One from Tyrrell and the other from Woodford on a power play chance. This held firm and but not without its casualties. Fire keeper Bob Strum took a knee injury late in the period and still made some remarkable saves to boot. Thats heart for you boys and girls!
Fire lead 3-2 after the second.
This set the stage for a great third, but the injury to Strum was a huge mountain to climb. It took Good Caines no time at all to figure out the Strum's movement was not the same and he evened it up with a low blocker side shot off a feed from Cooper. Not to be greedy, Caines then fed Cooper for his first of game and the Hackers were back in the drivers seat... but not for lon. Raymond picked up his second of the night to even things up but Blair Cameron, who is a steady force on D, grabbed a rare goal to put the Hackers back in front.
Next Matt Strum and Dave Cooper teamed up to add another tally to the score sheet and giving their team a two goal lead. But the Fire weren't going anywhere. Myles Raymond stole the ball and split the D to head in for a breakaway and he made it count grabbing his third of the night to claw within one. Matt Strum grabbed his third of the contest off a feed from Gord Caines and the Hackers had the 2 goal lead back.But wait...Here come the Fire and Matty Monk grabs a goal off a Sean Fitzgerald feed and this one is a one goal game all over again.
There was about 1:30 left but the Hackers managed to take control and eat the clock for the remainder of the game.
This was a great play off game and special mention goes to Bob Strum for his heroics while injured and Bobby Zwicker who made a clutch glove save to keep his team in the lead.
Hackers take this one 7-6
So this makes for an interesting finals. The Hackers finished 2nd and the Sabres finished 4th, but when they faced off during the regular season, the Sabres won the first outing 6-4 while the Hackers squeaked out a 7-6 win later in the season.
This should be an entertaining game to say the least...but we have to give the Hackers the edge.
Gametime is Monday the 7th at 8:30.
Also wanted to mention that there will be pick up on the small floor at 8:30 as well. we have two goalies lined up again so make sure you come out and give it a go.
This is Billy Concarney saying so long and may the best team that night win! ;-)
Be well folks!