By: Ellie Hazelwood
A tough loss for the Ottawa West Golden Knights on Monday, February 9, as they fell 3-2 against Casselman.
The boys just weren’t clicking, but there were still glimmers throughout the game, despite that.
Justin Murdoch scored, and the Knights almost came back, after Max Shewfelt hit the back of the net. Dustin Riff helped keep the boys in it, with 31 saves.
It was a tough loss, but the glimmers still shine through.
The following Monday, the Golden Knights were back at it, against the Ottawa Junior Canadians. The boys were goldfish, and came out flying.
Affiliated Player, Jack Malandra, scored two minutes into the first, for his first EOJHL goal.
Around a minute later, the Canadians got one, and the score was tied.
Things got chippy halfway through the first. Golden Knight Brennan Miller fought Canadian Jason Cyr, and things remained physically from there.
“Just gotta try to be more physical than them. Throwing some hits is what our coach wants,” Joel Mullen said. “Especially since they’re the team we’re going to be playing in the first round, so it’s important to be as physical as we can.”
The game remained 1-1, heading into the second period.
Will McCulligh hit the back of the net on the power play, less than four minutes into the second, to put the boys ahead.
“Steve wanted us to move around a little, after the first Powerplay. I saw the puck was in the slot, and thought I’d slide down a little,” McCulligh said. “Murdoch popped it out to me. Then, we got back on top, and were leading them by one.”
The Canadians got another one, but Shewfelt came in clutch a few minutes later, scoring a nasty one.
McCulligh nailed his second of the game, to part the boys up 4-2 before the start of the third.
The Canadians got within one during the third, but both Malandra and Seamus Lockhart scored to put the Knights up 6-3. Carter Overhoff held a strong net presence, making 25 saves, and helping the Golden Knights stay ahead.
It was a big win for the boys, and it clinched the Knights in second place in the league.
Thursday was the final game of the regular season for the Golden Knights, as they took on the Smith Fall Bears.
They unfortunately fell short with a few minutes left in the third, but shimmers in the game consist of Shewfelt hitting the back of the net, and Dustin Riff standing on his head, with 33 saves, to help keep the Knights in it.
It was a week with a clutch goal scored every game, and it’s amazing that the Ottawa West Golden Knights clinched second.
Now, it’s just time to look ahead to the future, because the playoffs start on March 2, as the Golden Knights go up against the Junior Canadians in the first round.
