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| Wildcats ousted in five by Squires |
| March 22, 2009 |
Monkton has bright future after taking next step in ‘AA’ competition
Courtesy of The Mitchell Advocate
Posted By Andy Bader
The improvement and development of the Monkton Wildcats in WOAA Senior hockey continued this season, despite the five-game playoff loss to a more experienced Petrolia Squires team in ‘AA’ action.
Monkton, which finished in seventh place in the 10-team South Division standings, knocked off top-seeded Lucan-Ilderton in five games in the qualifying round of the post-season, and were tied 1-1 with Petrolia before the Squires won the next three contests to eliminate the locals, 4-1.
The latest loss, a wild 7-5 defeat last Friday in Petrolia, was disappointing, but not a total loss overall, said head coach Mark Uniac.
“We went 5-5 in the playoffs against the first and second-place teams, so it shows we deserve to be there,” he said.
Fan interest was high, especially as legions of Wildcat fans took in Game 5, hopeful for a sixth game in Monkton the following night.
With their backs to the wall, Monkton came out fired up and ready to play, Kevin Ward’s power play goal tying the score less than two minutes after Petrolia had opened the scoring. Ryan Arbuthnot’s power play marker three minutes into the second staked the ‘Cats to their first lead, but Petrolia used the power play of their own midway through the second to tie, then they took the lead with under three minutes in the middle frame.
Steeve Valois scored the first of his two goals 3:28 into the third, then Pat McClure gave Monkton another one-goal lead just over three minutes later.
The see-saw struggle continued, with Petrolia scoring twice in 15-seconds less than a minute later to regain their slim margin with 12 minutes left to play.
Just over two minutes after that, Valois’s second goal, also on the power play, deadlocked the game once more, 5-5.
But Petrolia would score a controvesial goal with under seven minutes left - some felt it was gloved into the net - which stood up as the winner, then sealed things with an empty net marker.
Matt May, Phil Jarmuth and Arbuthnot all had two assists, while goalie Andrew Daub made 28 saves in the Monkton net. Darryl Foster faced 36 shots in the Petrolia net, stopping 31 of them.
“It was a weird game,” Uniac noted. “The guys were ready to play, it’s just whenever we’d score they’d answer or the other way around. It was just going to be a matter of who’s getting the last chance, and they did.”
Experience played part of a role, Uniac said, as Petrolia, newcomers to the WOAA league but veterans of the OHA Senior loop, are used to playing with one another.
In retrospect, Monkton had a decent regular season, but Uniac said the team has a lot of quality players and leaders who know how to win in the playoffs.
“I’d say we had the regular season I expected - it’s a tough league to play in. But the playoffs are a whole new game - we have the right kind of guys to be like that, I think,” he said.
Tavistock and Clinton faced off for Game 7 last night (Tuesday) in the other South ‘AA’ series, with Petrolia taking on the winner. In the North ‘AA’ final, Saugeen Shores is facing Shelburne. The two survivors will meet for the ‘AA’ championship. |
| Wildcats have backs to wall |
| March 13, 2009 |
Petrolia flexes muscles on power play to put Monkton on brink in ‘AA’ series
Courtesy of The Mitchell Advocate
Posted By Andy Bader
The Monkton Wildcats have their backs to the wall in their WOAA Senior ‘AA’ South semi-final series, having dropped a pair of weekend games to the Petrolia Squires.
In Petrolia for Game 3 last Friday, three power play goals by the home side was the margin of victory in a 5-2 win. Petrolia opened the scoring less than four minutes into the game with the man advantage, and were up 2-0 before the game was 13-minutes old.
Steeve Valois and Matt May scored second period goals for the Wildcats, who trailed 3-2 heading into the third before the Squires sealed the game with a pair of power play goals themselves in the final frame.
Geoff Fullerton had two assists for Monkton, while Andrew Daub made 33 saves in goal.
Wildcats coach Mark Uniac said his troops weren’t ready to play Friday and it showed.
“We were almost timid,” he said, noting that Petrolia’s old arena is a difficult place to play, and if you crank up the intensity in a playoff atmosphere, it gets loud in a hurry.
Back in Monkton Saturday for Game 4, two more power play goals - this time in the second period - was enough for Petrolia to defeat the ‘Cats 3-1.
The first period was scoreless but Petrolia cashed their first power play of the night to take a lead five minutes into the second, then struck quickly with goals less than two minutes apart seven minutes later to build a 3-0 lead.
Perry Francis scored a power play goal of his own two-and-a-half minutes into the third, but they could get no closer as Petrolia took control of the series.
“We just couldn’t score,” Uniac lamented.
“We’re not playing terrible,” he added, “and I thought we deserved a better fate. We were in the game at least.
“She’s easy now - we need to win or it’s over.”
The Wildcats need to win Friday in Petrolia to stay alive, and if they do, will host Game 6 in Monkton Saturday at 8:30 p.m. If necessary, Game 7 will be played in Petrolia next Tuesday, March 17 at 8:30 p.m.
A fan bus is leaving for Petrolia this Friday at 5:45 p.m. from Monkton, and from Mitchell at 6 p.m. for any fan interested.
The series winner will take on either Clinton or Tavistock in the ‘AA’ South division final. That best-of-seven series is currently deadlocked at 2-2. |
| Wildcats anything but pussycats |
| March 04, 2009 |
 Courtesy of The Mitchell Advocate
Monkton squares ‘AA’ division semi-final with Petrolia last Saturday
Posted By Andy Bader
Much like their first WOAA Senior men’s hockey playoff series, the Monkton Wildcats used the first game as a ‘feeling out process’ with the top-seeded Petrolia Squires last Friday, and much like their first series - a five-game win over Lucan-Ilderton - the Wildcats used home ice to set the tone one night later.
These ‘Cats are anything but pussy cats.
Monkton was full value for a 3-2 win in Game 2 Saturday before a large crowd, squaring the best-of-seven ‘AA’ South semi-final series after a 3-0 defeat in Petrolia in the opener.
Deon Keller and Geoff Fullerton scored power play goals for Monkton as the home side built a 2-1 lead after one period, and in the second, when the more experienced Squires tried some intimidation tactics against the youthful ‘Cats, Monkton met the challenge.
Rookie Ryan Arbuthnot continued his fine two-way play and scored midway through the second to give the ‘Cats a 3-1 lead, and although Petrolia scored a power play goal of their own late to draw within a goal, it wasn’t enough as Monkton played a solid defensive third period to ride home the victory.
“The boys answered the bell when we had to,” said Wildcats coach Mark Uniac.
Perry Francis, Chris Ward and Karl Terpstra were involved in three separate skirmishes in the second period, as Petrolia, seemingly frustrated with the speed and work ethic of the Wildcats, kept taking penalties, and although Monkton failed to take advantage on the power play, including a couple of five-on-three chances, proved they could play with the big boys.
“It would have been nice to bury some of those chances we had, especially in the second,” Uniac added.
Francis had a shorthanded breakaway foiled with seven minutes left in the third which would have iced the game, but it didn’t matter as Andrew Daub continued his steady play in goal and solid defensive play in front of him kept Petrolia at bay.
Uniac said the ‘Cats - unconsciously, anyway - went to Petrolia last Friday and waited to see how the Squires played rather than take the game to them.
“The same thing happened against Lucan and that turned out okay,” he said, referring to the Wildcats winning the next four games and the series.
Uniac would make no prediction on a similar sweep, especially with key cogs Kyle Verberne and Mike Feltz absent for this weekend’s games, but realizes that their depth and hard work will continue to be a key as the series progresses.
Game 3 is in Petrolia this Friday at 8 p.m., with anyone interested in riding a fan bus asked to reserve their seat by calling Becky Beuerman at 519-347-4249. Game 4 is back in Monkton Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Game 5 is also in Petrolia on Friday, March 13, at 8 p.m., with Game 6, if necessary, in Monkton the next night, Saturday, March 14 at 8:30 p.m. A sudden-death Game 7 is set for Petrolia on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, at 8:30 p.m.
In the other ‘AA’ South semi-final, Tavistock holds a 2-0 series lead over Clinton. |
| Series Tied at One |
| March 02, 2009 |
| The Wildcats didn't put up much of a fight Friday night in Petrolia and lost 3-0. Saturday night in Monkton was a different story though. The Cats showed up ready to play and evened the series with a 3-2 win. |
| Red-hot Wildcats stun Lucan |
| February 27, 2009 |
Courtesy of the Mitchell Advocate
Posted By Andy Bader
The Monkton Wildcats shocked everyone but themselves when they reeled off four straight victories over the Lucan-Ilderton Jets in their opening WOAA ‘AA’-A’ qualifying playoff round.
After a Game 1 loss in Lucan, the Wildcats won four straight, utilizing their depth and skill to stun the Jets - the second-place team in the conference after the regular season - including a pair of wins last weekend, 1-0 at home in Game 4 Friday, and a 5-2 win in Lucan one night later.
The Wildcats now advance to the best-of-seven ‘AA’ South semi-finals against regular season champs Petrolia Squires, a club the Wildcats battled tooth and nail during the regular season, losing a 4-3 shootout (as Petrolia scored in the dying seconds to force extra time) and 2-1 in early December when the ‘Cats only utilized 12 players.
“It’s our first foray into the ‘AA’ side, so let’s see how it turns out,” said Wildcats coach Mark Uniac.
“The team we just beat ended up tied in points with these guys (Petrolia), so we’ve got nothing to lose.”
Red-hot goaltending by Andrew Daub paved the way to a key win of the series, last Friday’s 1-0 victory, as Daub made 29 saves, and Phil Jarmuth’s goal midway through the second stood up as the winner. One night later, quick goals by the hard-working ‘Cats never let Lucan take a big enough lead to feel comfortable, as Mike Feltz and Steeve Valois scored less than two minutes apart just over a minute after Lucan opened the scoring midway through the first. Feltz’s second of the night - another blast from the point - early in the second proved to be the winner, with Geoff Fullerton and Perry Francis (into an empty net) rounding out the scoring.
“Our depth made the difference, I think,” Uniac noted, adding that Daub outplayed the Jets’ netminder K.J. Robinson, who has professional experience in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL).
Monkton was set to travel to Petrolia this Friday in the best-of-seven opener, with Game 2 Saturday in Monkton at 8:30 p.m.
In other ‘AA’ series, the Clinton/Tillsonburg winner was to take on Tavistock in the other best-of-seven affair |
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