U16 Spitfires are tied up
It is now a best of three series between the sixth seed Windsor Jr. Spitfires and the third ranked Brantford 99ers in opening round playoff action within the Under 16 level of the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario. Each team took a tight 3-2 overtime road triumph from the opening two matches of the best of five set.
Brantford 3, Windsor 2. It took overtime for the 99ers to put away the pesky Spitfires, who got goals from Carter Trudell and Alex West. Ethan Dool performed well between the pipes in defeat for Windsor.
Windsor 3, Brantford 2. Cooper Disher clicked for a pair of goals — include the overtime winner — and Kingston Smith added the other in support of winning goalie Holten McPhedran.
U16 Spitfires head coach Matthew Zuccato relayed his thoughts on the two weekend games to Hockey News Windsor.
“Game one, I thought we played a really well structured game and brought a lot of energy. We know they have a high powered offense and we were able to limit their grade A chances. We unfortunately didn’t get rewarded for how well we played by losing in overtime,” Zuccato began.
“Game two, we knew traveling up the 401 for a late game on a Sunday night that it was important to play sound defense. We had a couple penalties early but our penalty kill was great and energized our bench. After going up 1-0 they got two quick ones late in the third but we knew we were playing well. We didn’t stop and got rewarded with it by scoring with 15 seconds left and quickly into overtime. Both our goalies gave us a chance to win by playing very well,” summed up Zuccato.
UP NEXT. The series continues this Friday evening in Brantford before the U16 Spitfires return to the cozy confines of Central Park Athletics for Game 4 on Saturday afternoon at 4:00. If a fifth game is needed, it will be played on Sunday (March 1) in Brantford.