Male U18 AAA Eastman Selects battle their way into playoffs
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For the U18 AAA Eastman Selects it came down to the final game of the season for the second consecutive year and once again the team pulled out a victory in a must win-game.
Down one point in the standings, the Selects were able to nab two victories over the Parkland Rangers in the season’s final weekend, securing the eighth and final playoff spot in the Manitoba Male U18 AAA Hockey League.
Captain Kasen Mateychuk, who was named a first-team all-star had two points in both games, including two goals in the 6-3 win Feb. 22 that vaulted the Selects over the Rangers. Calyb Moore was also named a second-team all-star.
Eastman got five goals from five different goal-scorers in the second period to clinch the victory. Colter Martens all but ended the game late in the period, striking short-handed to give the Selects a nearly insurmountable 5-1 lead.
Martens took advantage when a clearance attempt from Jax Huberdeau bounced right past a Parkland defender at the point. A step ahead of every player throughout the neutral zone, he shrugged off an attempted check to let loose a low-blocker shot that gave Eastman all the advantage they would need.
The Selects followed up that performance with a dominant 8-2 victory the next afternoon to solidify their spot in the post-season, taking advantage of an undermanned Parkland squad.
Lucas Laramee put up a great performance in the clinching game, striking twice in the first seven minutes to set the Selects off on the right track. Already sitting on a single goal, Laramee won a powerplay faceoff and headed straight for the crease, where he just needed to keep his stick on the ice to tip home a Seth Hooper shot-pass on a back-door feed.
The victories set up a re-match with the Brandon Wheat Kings, who cruised through the Selects last season in the one versus eight match-up while boasting a historically great team.
The Wheat Kings have shown some slight weakness this season, at least compared to the previous one, losing 10 games instead of the single one they did last year.
The Selects will host game two and four of a best-of-five series against the Wheat Kings on March 3 and March 7. If game four is needed puck drop is tentatively scheduled for 5:30 p.m. (March 7 is a Friday).