The HLD Midget Otters AE team recently started the 2010 Muskoka Parry Sound Hockey League playdowns against Parry Sound.
Early in the first period of Game 1, Kenny Bullock quickly found the back of the net with a shorthanded goal, then he scored again minutes later on the power play, with assists from Randal McIntyre and Adam McDermott. Colin McDonald later stole the puck and found Derek Sutton in the slot, who then redirected the pass past the Parry Sound net minder to increase the lead to 3-0.
Quick puck movement by Huntsville caught Parry Sound flatfooted, which allowed Matt Van Horne to score on a shot from the point, adding to the lead. The Shamrocks replied with a goal of their own but Bullock answered that goal to end the period with a hat trick, assisted by Richard Middleton.
The 2nd period was all Huntsville as Taylor Godfrey and McDonald both scored quick goals with assists going to Nick MacPherson and Sutton. The Otters got into penalty trouble and Parry Sound scored two goals on the power play.
Bullock however decided a hat trick wasn’t enough and got the Otters back on track with his fourth goal, assisted by Richard Middleton and McIntyre. Ryan Brown assisted by Jon Temple followed right behind lifting a rebound over the goalie.
Middleton scored two goals of his own with assists going to Bullock, Jon Brown and Aedan Callaghan. The goals ended the second period 11-3.
Stephen Grimes started off the third with a shot the Parry Sound goalie never saw. The shorthanded goal was assisted by Temple. Parry Sound added one more and finished the game 12-4. Goalie Andrew MacNeil played a strong game in net for the Otters.
Game 2 was in Parry Sound and this contest produced a motivated Shamrock team as both teams had quality opportunities to be first on the scoreboard. Midway through the first, Bullock found an opening on a centering pass from Grimes to put Huntsville in the lead.
Parry Sound answered near the end of the first on a breakaway goal. The second period was a battle by both teams that resulted in penalty problems for both sides. But neither team could capitalize with the man advantage.
McDonald gave Huntsville the lead early in the third period with assists from Temple and John Vandenende.
The Shamrocks tied the game shortly afterward when a Parry Sound player pounded on a loose puck in the slot and scored.
When Huntsville was pressing in the final minute a Parry Sound player broke free with the puck and was able to beat the Huntsville net minder with 14 seconds left to win the game 3-2.
Goalie Tyler Coleman was exceptional between the pipes.
Huntsville will now play Gravenhurst tonight (Wednesday) in this round robin playoff.