BRACEBRIDGE — After weeks of uncertainty, the South Muskoka Shield learned Sunday evening that its playoff run against the Bradford Rattlers will be held in a northern neighbour’s rink.
The first game in the best-of-seven semifinal series took place Tuesday (March 9) at Bracebridge Memorial Arena. Results of the Game 1 were not known at press time.
Bradford will host Game 2 and Game 3 at Bob Fallis Arena outside Bradford. The schedule was not available at press time. Bradford will host up to two more games in the series.
Shield home games have been scheduled at Bracebridge Memorial Arena on Tuesday, March 16, Thursday, March 18, and a final game if necessary on Saturday, March 20. All games start at 8:30 p.m.
As a special offer, any youth under 12 years of age with a minor hockey jersey will be admitted to the games free of charge.
Shield coach Dallyn Telford said players are excited about the change. The team had to relocate from its home rink at Gravenhurst Centennial Centre due to construction. The centre is being expanded, and an aquatic centre is being added.
“They’re ecstatic to be here and see that the rink holds a lot of people,” Telford said.“We’re one round from the final, and we know this (Bracebridge) will be our home. We saw the atmosphere, the character. I can tell there have been some pretty big games played in that rink. We’re going to miss Gravenhurst, but we’re 10 minutes up the highway and we think our fans will follow us.”
The Shield tried out the ice surface in Bracebridge Thursday night during practice.
Telford is excited to play Bradford on a smaller ice surface.
“The bigger the ice, the more room to free-wheel,” he said. “I love this about the rink. We set the practice to the style of the rink. Bradford doesn’t want to get hit, but we’ll be bouncing them around.”
The Shield has home-ice advantage over Bradford for four of seven games, meaning three elimination games will be held in Bracebridge.
Of playing the Rattlers, Telford said the Shield is “ready to go.”
“It’s been 10 days since our series against King, so we’re definitely anxious and confident, too. The last time we faced Bradford, we shut them out.”
The other semifinal playoff series in the Greater Metro Jr. A Hockey League pits the league champion Elliot Lake Bobcats against the Deseronto Storm. The winners of each semifinal match face off in the championship game.