Mon., Feb. 7/11 -Wawota -4 at Bienfait - 5 - OT-Game One - Big Six Hockey League Playoffs
It was like a kick in the gut and, yet, it also was a wake-up call that, hey, we can compete! A short bench was no deterent as the determined Flyers took on the second-place Coalers in Bienfait on Monday night and battled to the end only to suffer an agonizing over-time loss. The two teams skated through a scoreless first period until the Flyers' Ben Brown pounced on a rebound four minutes into the second to open scoring. The Coalers rebounded scoring two goals six minutes apart midway through the period to take a 2 - 1 lead, but the Flyers knotted it on a Kent Sauter goal after some good pressure. The score was tied at 2 after two periods.
The third saw the play go back and forth until Brad Lincoln shelved one at the 10 minute mark to give the Flyers a lead. Then, with three minutes on the clock Fritz Sauter ripped one home on a nice set-up from brother Kent and Jordan Fox to give the Flyers a commanding 4 - 2 lead. BUT! The Coalers were not to be denied as they pressed, scoringwith 1:26 on the clock to make it 4 - 3 and then forcing overtime with only :26 on the clock. Devastating!
Overtime saw the Flyers get some legitimate chances, failing to score and then the Coalers, with :23 left in the first overtime, broke the Flyers' hearts, taking a hard-fought 5 - 4 overtime victory in Game One. Disappointing, but we have hope that we can extend this series and, hopefully, give the Coalers a run. The Flyers got good efforts from their line-up with Travis Declerque and James Gallagher turning in yeoman's efforts on the Flyers' blueline while Ryan Potter was outstanding in the Flyers' cage. Good job, guys, keep humping!
