Halifax Floor Hockey League
Last night the league had it's final game of the season when the underdog Hackers faced off against the quiet yet effective Slayers.
The Slayers have done nothing fancy in these playoffs, and led by their keeper Marty "The Party" Kane and the rag tag group of newbies and misfits, just keep chugging along and winning.
The Hacker have pulled off arguably two of the biggest upsets the league has ever seen by knocking off the top seed Sabres and then the second seed Fire to get to the big dance. Could they do it once more?
You will have to read to find out!
The Slayers had the better record of the two teams so team GM/Coach Johann Tienhaara got to choose and so he took the Big Floor at 8:30. The Hackers were back to their normal line up, with Tony Joyce back and Tom Wynn back from the World Hockey Championships, they were ready to serve notice. The Slayers were missing two of the major contributors in Norm Snook who was injured and Shane Erb who was trying to make the Aruben Ball Hockey Team.
This game started and the Hackers drew first blood when Dave Cooper fired a shot at Kane who made one of his 14 saves in the first, but Chad Banks followed up and tucked the rebound just under the cross bar. The Slayers were lack lustre in the first just recording 9 shots and maybe having two good scoring chances.
The Second saw almost the identical goal scored this time by the Slayers, when Mark Duggan took a shot that was stopped by Tom Wynn, but in from the point ran Doug Forrest and he scored on the rebound making this all even. The Hackers continued to press and Dave Cooper took the lead on a pass from Greg Sullivan. The period ended with the Hackers up 2-1.
The third period was a slug fest of sorts. Nothing dirty, but some great saves and great shots. Both goalies were playing their "A" game. Just about 1/3rd of the way into the period, Colin Waugh scored the equalizer. The Hackers got caught trying to sit on the lead and that tends to be a hard thing to do in this league. Waugh made them pay.
So with the game tied, this one was going to be decided by the next goal...or was it?
The Slayers applied some serious pressure and Wynn was up for the task. he faced a total of 18 shots in the third and was giving his team a chance to win.
Late in the third, Doug Forrest teed up a slapshot from the point that just missed the bottom corner. The ball came off the back wall and from what seemed to be an impossible angle, Ryan "The Rookie" Gillis flipped the ball up into the top far corner to give the Slayers their first lead of the game.
Time ticked down and the Hackers pulled their goalie. They had the pressure on the Slayers when dave Cooper took a snap shot headed for the corner but Kane turned it aside. There is a scramble in front of the net when Mark McGuigan grabs a rebound and fires, Kane throws his pad out and again turns aside the shot.
The Slayers gain control and "TWEEET" The Slayers win, the Slayers win!!
What a game. One of the best finals we have seen for a long time. A clean well fought and even game that could have gone either way. Both goalies played great with Kane posting a .950 save percentage and Wynn posting a .924 save percentage.
A great game all around.
So that is how things went down. The playoff MVP goes to Kane who was the first, third and first star in his three playoff games.
The league wants to say thank you to all players who participated in the league this year. We had a great season and are proud of this league and what it represents. Thanks to you all.
Also, a special thanks to Rod an the gang at Eastside Mario's in Bayers Lake. They have sponspored our player of the week awards and been ver generous. Please please please make sure that you get out to the restaurant and support them. they more than deserve it.
Thanks Rod!
Last but not least, league commish Martin kane sends his thanks to all those who have reffed and kept time. Without these fellas, we would not be able to have this league going, so thank you.
He also wants to thank the league executive Matt Monk. Gordon Martell and Johann Tienhaara for their hard work. They also have done a super job and need to be thanked for their efforts.
We hope everyone has a great summer and be safe people.
This is Billy Concarney saying so long and Congrats to the Slayers! You guys deserve it!
Be well folks
