MONKTON – For the first time in perhaps team history, the Monkton Wildcats have quietly put together a seven-game win streak in Senior A hockey action.
They picked an appropriate time to do it, too, as they completed a three-game opening round sweep of the defending South Division ‘AA’ champions from Tavistock last Friday, thanks to a 3-1 victory.
Up next is a berth in the ‘AA’ South semifinals, a perch they reached last year in surprising fashion with a first-round upset of Lucan-Ilderton, but this time it was expected.
And the team has responded.
“A lot of years we never won seven games, let alone seven in a row,” coach/GM Mark Uniac said. “January was probably the toughest part of our schedule, too, so we are doing it at the right time.”
Goalie Andrew Daub has been steady if not spectacular all season, and he continued his play in Game 3 last Friday, turning aside 32 of the 33 shots he faced.
Uniac said the group has put an emphasis on team defence all season, and it is particularly important in the post-season when games get tighter.
Offensively, Kyle Verberne scored two of the team’s three goals in Game 3, with captain Perry Francis opening the scoring 15 minutes into the first period. Verberne’s first of the game was a shorthanded effort late in the second period, which not only doubled the Cats’ lead, but stood up as the winner.
Daub’s shutout bid was snapped midway through the third when Royals veteran Jason Walsh scored, but Daub stood tall the rest of the way to backstop the victory.
It is undecided at press time whom Monkton will play in the ‘AA’ South semifinal, depending on series outcomes from the relegation round. If Petrolia defeated Milverton last night (Tuesday, Feb. 9) in Game 5, the Wildcats will take on the Squires in the next round, likely beginning in Petrolia Friday, with Game 2 back in Monkton Saturday. If Milverton upsets Petrolia, the Wildcats will play Lucan beginning Friday in Monkton at 8:30 p.m.