Halifax Floor Hockey League
In 1999A the heavily favored Hackers fell behind late to an upstart Keane Fire team. The Fire, opened up a late third period lead on 6 goals by current Hacker Mike Sasco. But the Hackers, who went 5-1 in the regular season, dug deep -- and nobody dug deeper than current Fire forward Don Abbott. Abbott's 2 goals in the dying moments turned a one-goal deficit into a one-goal advantage, and a 12-11 semi-final victory.
Their 1999B semi-final victory was even more improbable. After running the table in the regular season at 6-0, the Hackers squared off against the lowly Sunnydale Slayers, who had not won a single game in the regular season. The Slayers, led by Hall of Fame goaltender Paul Chui stayed close to the Hackers until the third period when Slayers forward, and fellow Hall of Famer Tim Farrell turned it up a notch. Again, the Slayers were up late in the third, but this time, all-time leading scorer John Price played hero. Price tied the game then proceeded to stick-handle around what seemed like the entire Slayers squad to pot the winning goal in a dramatic 7-6 Hackers victory.
It was deja vu all over again for the Hackers in 2000A. The first place Hackers faced the last place Sabres team for the third straight season in the playoffs, but for the first time in the semi-finals. This was even more of a defensive struggle, with both goaltenders collectively achieving a 90% save percentage. Regulation solved nothing as the score was remarkably knotted at 5 after the full 45 minutes. It went directly to a shootout where the first Hackers' shooter, rookie Graham Pattison, proved to be the unlikely hero. He was the only shooter to score in the entire shootout, thus giving the Hackers a razor-tight 1-0 shootout victory.
So it's no wonder the league heard a collective sigh of relief from the Hackers this season when they cruised to a semi-final victory over the Keane Chill. But they can't think that the worst is behind them this time, as a lethal Lynx offense is waiting for them.