Ontario Hockey Association

The pieces are in place, as the Mount Forest Patriots prepare to make their final run at the 2008 Western Junior C playoffs.  A smattering of trades and acquisitions prior to the season trade deadline mean the Pats will be lacing up for the looming postseason with a roster vastly different from the one that began the season in Mount Forest.

 

The Kincardine Bulldogs clinched first place Sunday with a 4-2 win over the Walkerton Hawks, and the other winning teams in the league have also worked, wheeled and dealed to secure what they hope is a championship title run.  Working hard to see that at least a few more wins come Mount Forest’s way, the new players are fitting in and falling in line with the direction Head Coach and GM Gerry Hillier has set out for the Patriots.

 

The new look Patriots gave the Wingham Ironmen a run for their money on Saturday night at home, dropping a 3-1 squeaker.  Wingham scored the only goal of the first, and ignited with a second goal only 15 seconds into the second period.  Both markers came with the man advantage.  Mount Forest’s leading goal scorer Jeff Colton added one more to his total in the second period, taking a powerplay feed from Dan Bennett.  Wingham then added a goal late in the third to secure the 3-1 steal.  

 

In Wingham on Friday, Jan. 11, Mount Forest also kept the game close as the Ironmen coasted to a 5-1 victory.  The home side opened a 3-0 edge in the first, thanks to a goal at even strength, one on the powerplay and one shorthanded. Mark Gregory scored the only goal for Mount Forest, from Josh Mitton, but two more Ironmen tallies buoyed the lead to 5-1 for what was a scoreless third period.  The teams behaved themselves, rolling up less than 30 combined penalty minutes in the contest.

 

The same can not be said for the Hanover Barons, who hosted the Pats on Friday night and embarrassed them with a penalty-mired 12-3 decision.  Mark Gregory, Kyle Raben and Ryan Guse were all ejected for fighting before the end of the mess, which saw each side assessed in the area of 30 minutes in various infractions.

 

Hanover popped in five unanswered goals, two of them coming on the powerplay, and led the game 6-1 after 20 minutes. The lead swelled to 11-3 after two periods, until the scoring took a back seat to the penalties in period three. Newcomer Josh Mitton scored the first Patriot goal, assisted by Shayne Ross, and it was 8-1 before Tim Posthumus scored a goal from Kyle MacKenzie and Marlon Campbell. The line struck again before the close of the period, as Campbell netted one of his own from MacKenzie and Posthumus.

 

Mount Forest currently has six regular season games left before the postseason begins, and will host the Bulldogs this Saturday night after another Friday evening tilt in Hanover.