Stayner Siskins continue on point streak
Shootouts were the name of Stayner Siskins hockey game last week.
Although Stayner split the two games played, 5-4 loss to Caledon Thursday night on home ice and a 6-5 win over Penetang Saturday, coach Steve Walker was happy to continue their point streak.
“We’re doing something right,” he said.
In the last 14 games, the club has managed to earn at least one point from two shootout losses, one overtime win and 11 victories.
Thursday’s shootout loss should never have happened if you gauge by shots. Stayner out-shot the Golden Hawks 53-29. Obviously, Caledon netminder James Cyfko played well to earn the victory. Xavier Portelance took the loss.
Walker noted that Stayner had opportunities to secure the win but couldn’t bury the puck.
The first period ended in a 1-1 draw with Ricky Darrell Siskins lone scorer. Caledon scored one power play goal and two others to jump to a 3-1 after 11 minutes of play in the second period. Stayner showed good fight coming back to tie the game by the period’s end. Quinten Bruce notched both goals.
Darrell pulled the trigger in the third period while on a power play to tie the game. Neither team scored in overtime and in the shootout
Caledon earned the victory by scoring twice on Portelance versus the one Stayner goal.
Siskins general manager Richard Gauthier wasn’t quite as cordial as Walker. He was quite upset that two of his players were suspended for checking from behind and unable to play in the Penetang game. Stayner already had a couple players out leaving the squad with just three lines and four defencemen.
According to Gauthier, Stayner was two to three minutes from putting Penetang away.
Stayner had scored a late first period goal and an early one to start the second when the Kings roared back with two goals within three minutes to tie the game.
“We’re not getting the big saves when needed,” Gauthier acknowledged.
The game went back and forth after that and it looked like Stayner would pull off a win late in the game leading 5-4. Penetang pulled the goalie and scored with 1:12 left to send it to overtime. Once again neither team scored in OT. In the shoot-out Stayner out-scored the Kings 2-0 to get the two points.
Walker agreed with Gauthier that the club needs the goalies to “stop the puck” in order to get by the top teams in the league and province.
Added Gauthier, “I should be happy but I see how much potential we have and how good we could be.”
Gauthier is also bewildered about his goaltending. He said Trevor Bloch played brilliantly just a few weeks back and knows he is capable. Until he can play consistently Gauthier will be shopping for a number one goalie. He also wants a big, mean defenceman.
Siskins next game is Thursday night at home against Midland. They play in Orillia Saturday.
A big congratulations is in order for the club’s coach.
Steve Walker is having his hockey sweater with the Eisbaren Berlin retired next week. He wore number 27. It’s quite an honour and tribute to the Clearview Township hockey player who started playing hockey in Creemore as a child and rose to the high ranks of professional hockey.
The team competes in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, the highest level of play in professional German ice hockey and is also one of the league’s founding members. Walker was a star player for them for about a decade.
Walker and his family will be in attendance.
Also big kudos to Duntroon’s Larry Sinclair. He was recently selected to be a member of the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame. He was a competitive skier, world-class coach, and inspirational to promoting Nordic skiing in the area. He has hosted international events at Highlands Nordic in Duntrron, which he built from the ground up.
