The Flamborough Tyke AA Sabres have begun the journey toward a league championship with an impressive win over the Brampton Battalion.

After consecutive losses to end the season, including one to Brampton a week before, the Sabres started the playoffs with an away game at the home of the Battalions. The players knew they would have to play their best, and work as a team to have success.

They did not disappoint.

The game featured good chances for both teams early on. Brampton opened the scoring in the first period and later notched the second of the game; things did not look good for the Sabres, who were down 2-0 heading into the second.

The second period featured sustained pressure by the Sabres and when Ben Durham scored to break the shutout, the team sensed a momentum shift. Later in the second, Paige Whaley, Tyler Mulholland and Mats Nixon hemmed the Battalion in their own end and when Durham poked home a rebound off a shot from Nixon, the game was deadlocked at two.

The third period began with some strong shifts from Riley Zimmerman, Jonathon Brown and Charlie Smith, along with stellar defence from Jarred Yates, Ethan Delmastro, Dylan McDonald, Liam O’Dell, Jacob Dietz and Justin Thornhill. The line of Tyler Schaap, Emily Oosterveld and Nixon continued the pressure. The intense play continued until Oosterveld fed a pass to Schaap, who buried the puck into the top shelf – the Sabres finally had the lead.

Zach Dietz was solid in goal all game, but no play was more crucial than a fine kick save with two minutes to go, that preserved the one-goal lead for the Sabres. Brampton tried in vain to tie the game, but with their goalie on the bench, J. Dietz fed a pass to Smith who deposited the fourth goal of the game, with under a minute left, to clinch the win.

A great team effort to start the playoffs, and the players, along with their goalies Dietz and Patrick Dutto are confident, yet aware of the commitment required in order to succeed in these playoffs.

This past week, the team won two crucial playoff games, against Wellington Centre and Georgetown.

Traveling to Wellington to play the Fusion, the Sabres played a tough, back-and-forth game with the outcome in doubt right up until the final buzzer.

Schaap opened the scoring for the Sabres on a pass from Oosterveld. From his position on defence,  O’Dell fed a pass to Durham, who pocketed the Sabres’ second of the game. The Fusion did not fall apart, however, and they scored twice to close the first period in a tie.

Defensemen Thornhill and J. Dietz combined for the third Sabres goal, with J. Dietz taking a cross-ice pass from Thornhill and blasting a shot home from the point.

The Sabres took a 4-2 lead late in the game, when Tyler Mulholland buried the puck, from Durham and Whaley. The goal proved to be critical, as a late surge from Wellington closed the score to within one.

Dutto in goal, and the rest of the Sabres players, held off the attacks and emerged with a 4-3 victory.

The Sabres hosted Georgetown and had their strongest game so far in the playoffs, shutting out the Raiders 6-0.

Goal scorers in the game were Smith with two, Nixon, Durham, Schaap, and Whaley. Assists went to Oosterveld, who had two, Zimmerman, Brown, Whaley, Durham, MacDonald and Delmastro. Goalies Dutto and Z. Dietz shared the duties and registered the combined shutout.

The Sabres’ record in the six game round-robin format now sits at an impressive three wins, no losses. If the kids keep working hard and working together, they will be well positioned to move on to the next round and battle for the league championship.

 -Submitted by Steve Durham