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Hard-working Wildcats ousted in Game 7 heartbreaker
March 12, 2010
Lose once again to Petrolia in playoffs

Courtesy of The Mitchell Advocate
Posted By Andy Bader

Once again, it came down to a one-goal game, but the Monkton Wildcats unfortunately came out on the short end in Game 7 of their WOAA Senior 'AA' South Semi-final series with the Petrolia Squires last Tuesday, Mar. 2, losing 5-4.

In six of the seven games, one goal separated the squads, and much like last season, it was the more experienced Squires who ended the Wildcats season.

"It's disappointing, but a couple of bounces either way and we come out on top," said Monkton coach Mark Uniac. "Every game was a one-goal game."

Petrolia, who've played together as a unit for the better part of a decade in senior hockey, scored two goals one minute apart midway through the third period to overcome a 4-3 Monkton lead and hang on for the victory.

"I was happy with the way the guys played," Uniac said, saying the extra effort was there, noting that many players traveled to Petrolia from great distances due to work and school commitments for the mid-week game.

Jeff Lepelaars opened the scoring 70-seconds into the game, but Petrolia scored twice in less than three minutes midway through the first to take their first lead. Blake Underwood tied the game in the first. Petrolia scored first in the second period, but less than two minutes after that, Jon Southgate's power play goal deadlocked the count at 3-3. Less than a minute later, Southgate suffered a 10-stitch gash on his face but the Wildcats couldn't take advantage on the subsequent four-minute power play despite numerous chances, Uniac said.

Tim Vosper did snap the tie four minutes into the third, but Petrolia answered quickly six minutes later.

"It was a fast-paced back and forth game," he said. "They came at us pretty hard."

Uniac said the 'Cats were on their heels a bit due to injuries to their defence corps, as rookies Dave Chessell separated his shoulder in the first period but kept playing, and Tim Eickmeyer had banged-up ribs. With fellow rookie Nick Seiler also out with a broken kneecap suffered earlier in the series, it made for tough sledding.

Uniac, on behalf of the team, wanted to say thanks to the faithful fans – at least 150 – who made the trip to Petrolia for Game 7.

"We had more fans there than they did, which says something," he said.

Monkton has a solid nucleus of youth on their team, as seven rookies played in Game 7 and countless others are just getting their "feet wet" in senior hockey, which bodes well for the future.

Last season, the Wildcats had their sights set on a 'AA' playoff berth, and they got it after upsetting Lucan-Ilderton in the relegation round. Petrolia defeated Monkton in five games, only to lose to Tavistock in the division final. This year, Uniac said they had their sights set on a 'AA' division championship and an overall league title, but once again Petrolia was in the way.

The Squires take on Lucan-Ilderton in the 'AA' South final, with Elora taking on Saugeen Shores in the 'AA' North final series.


Wildcats, Squires dead even in semi-final
February 25, 2010
Hard-fought series now best-of-three

Courtesy of The Mitchell Advocate
Posted By Andy Bader

It's now a best-of-three series for the right to advance to the WOAA Senior 'AA' South division final, as the Monkton Wildcats and Petrolia traded weekend victories once again this past weekend.

With the series 1-1, Monkton got goals from Perry Francis and Shayne McClure (on the power play) and steady netminding once again from Andrew Daub in a 2-1 win in Petrolia last Friday, giving the 'Cats a chance to take a big series lead on home ice one night later.

It wasn't to be, though, as Petrolia snapped a 1-1 first intermission deadlock with a three-goal rally in the second to take a 4-1 lead and record a 5-4 victory to even the series. Nick Seiler, Blake Underwood, McClure and Kyle Verberne (with 66-seconds left in regulation) scored for Monkton, who rallied to get within a goal with markers late in the second and four minutes into the third. Despite applying more pressure, and momentum on their side, Petrolia's Kyle Gould scored his second goal of the game – a long shot which eluded Daub – midway through the frame to essentially seal the game. Verberne's goal brought them close, and despite several chances late, the home side couldn't net the equalizer.

"Tonight's game was a different pace than the other three – it was a lot faster," said Monkton coach Mark Uniac afterwards. "It was a good game, we just didn't get any bounces. We've had the lead in every game but this one [Game 4]."

Game 5 is back in Petrolia this Friday at 8 p.m., with Monkton hosting Game 6 Saturday at 8:30 p.m. If a seventh game is needed, it will be played next Tuesday, March 2, in Petrolia at 8:30 p.m.

"We haven't played a full 60-minute game yet," Uniac said. "We seem to turn it on and off. It's a two out of three series now…here we go.

The series winner will advance to the 'AA' division final against Lucan-Ilderton or Tillsonburg. The Jets currently hold a 3-1 series lead.


Daub backstops Wildcats
February 19, 2010
Netminder stands tall to square series 1-1

Courtesy of The Mitchell Advocate
Posted By Andy Bader

The Monkton Wildcats saw their seven-game winning streak snapped in Petrolia Friday night – a blown 3-0 lead after one period in the process – but the 'Cats squared the best-of-seven WOAA South 'AA' semi-finals with the Squires one night later with a 3-1 victory.

It was a matter of contrasts in both games, too, Wildcats' coach Mark Uniac noted.

"It's been weird so far, really. We played better Friday than we did Saturday but we won, and they [Petrolia] probably played their absolute best game Saturday and lost."

Monkton got goals from Kyle Verberne, Tim Vosper and Matt May to take a 3-0 lead in Petrolia 15-minutes in, but Petrolia hung tough, trailed 3-1 after two periods and rallied for four goals in the final frame (including an empty netter) to take the opener, 5-3.

"We probably didn't deserve to be up, but we were," Uniac said.

Monkton, trailing by a goal late, had the potential tying goal disallowed when it was ruled that Dan Raycraft's leg directed the puck into the net after a shot by Blake Underwood was heading into the net.

"When we lost momentum, Petrolia took over and punished us," Uniac added.

Monkton rebounded in Game 2, despite being outplayed by the visitors.

"They spent most of the game in our end," he said. "They were coming, but we managed to bang in a couple and [Andrew] Dauber was the story once again."

Vosper, Underwood (with the winner) and Mike Feltz into an empty net scored for Monkton, while Daub made 34 saves.

Monkton returns to Petrolia this Friday at 8 p.m. for Game 3, with Game 4 back in Monkton this Saturday at 8:30 p.m. The Monkton Lions are planning another Wing Night for Saturday.


Cats edge Drives in shootout
January 06, 2010
Rally from one-goal deficit entire game until shootout

Courtesy of The Mitchell Advocate
Posted by Andy Bader

The Monkton Wildcats could never quite get the lead until it counted most in their WOAA Senior hockey game against Milverton 4-Wheel Drives Sunday afternoon.

Milverton would take four separate one-goal leads but each time Monkton would rally and tie, the final time with just 16-seconds left on the clock and the Wildcats enjoying a two-man advantage and goalie Andrew Daub on the ice for an extra attacker. Blake Underwood tipped a point shot between the legs of Milverton's Alan Keeso to forge the tie.

After a five-minute overtime period solved nothing, the teams went to a shootout, with Monkton outscoring the Drives 2-0 to pull out the 5-4 victory. Daub stopped all four shots in the shootout, while Ryan Baetz and Shayne McClure beat Keeso to give the home side the victory.

Pat McClure scored two goals for the winners during regulation time, with Jon Southgate adding the other before Underwood's tying goal.

Monkton sits in second place in the league's South Division standings with a 10-4-1 record and 21-points, behind first-place Tillsonburg. The 'Cats don't return to action until Friday, Jan. 8 when they host Petrolia at 8:30 p.m., then visit Tavistock on Saturday, Jan. 9.


Wildcats stay perfect on road
November 25, 2009
Senior club loses to Tillsonburg at home

Courtesy of the Mitchell Advocate
Posted By Andy Bader

The Monkton Wildcats split a pair of weekend games last weekend, falling at home to Tillsonburg 4-1 before travelling to Thedford to knock off the hometown Dirty Dogs 5-1 in WOAA Senior hockey action.

Tillsonburg, anxious to avert a home-and-home sweep with the 'Cats, scored two early goals Friday to get the jump on the Monkton side and the locals never really recovered. Down 3-0 in the second, Shayne McClure scored a pretty goal from close range to give the 'Cats some life, but less than 30-seconds later Tillsonburg restored their three-goal edge and sailed to victory.

Goals 1:37 apart late in the second period snapped a 1-1 tie in Thedford, and the 'Cats were on the way to victory. Ryan Baetz and Blake Underwood were the marksmen, with Dan Raycraft scoring the first of his two goals of the game in the first period and the eventual clincher late.

Coach Mark Uniac said the team played a solid 60 minutes in Thedford against an improved Dirty Dogs squad.

"It was good to bounce back after losing a big game Friday," he said. "We are perfect on the road for some reason, I guess the guys are a little more focused away from Monkton."

Al Lamont added the other goal, with Dave Chessell drawing two assists. Andrew Daub stopped 22 of the 23 shots fired his way in goal.

Monkton visits Milverton this Saturday at 8:30 p.m. in their lone game weekend, returning home on Dec. 4 against Lucan, also at 8:30 p.m.