Playoffs coming fast and furious for Blyth Brussels Crusaders teams
BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN
Playoff action continues for the Blyth Brussels Crusaders, as February turns into March and spring pops its head around the corner, signifying the inevitable end of the hockey season.
The U11 LL Crusaders lost to the Mount Forest Rams by a score of 3-2 in Brussels on Feb. 21, but then beat the Wingham Ironmen on Feb. 23 by a score of 3-2 in Blyth. They next play the Goderich Sailors on the road tonight, Friday, Feb. 28, in their next playoff game.
The U11 Rep team has five playoff games under its belt with a record of one win, three losses and a tie. The Crusaders’ next playoff game is with the Huron-Bruce Blizzard tonight, Feb. 28, in Brussels.
The U13 LL Crusaders only have one playoff game under their belt, beating the Goderich Sailors in Blyth by a score of 3-1 on Feb. 19. The team’s next game is scheduled for tonight in Goderich to play the Sailors again, followed by games with the Arthur Vipers on March 1, the Huron-Bruce Blizzard on March 3 and the Mount Forest Rams on March 5.
The U13 Rep Crusaders have registered two playoff wins and one loss thus far with three big games ahead of them. The team will play the Mount Forest Rams in Blyth on March 1, the Wingham Ironmen on the road on March 2 and the Central Perth Predators in Brussels on March 4.
The U15 LL Crusaders have won their only playoff game - a 3-2 victory over the Minto Mad Dogs in Blyth on Feb. 24. The team will now face the Ironmen in Wingham on March 2 and the Mount Forest Rams in Blyth on March 3.
The U15 Rep Crusaders have lost all three of the playoff games they’ve played and will now face the Listowel Cyclones on March 1 in Blyth and the Huron-Bruce Blizzard in Ripley on March 3.
The U18 LL Crusaders have registered a win, a loss and a tie thus far with games against the Goderich Sailors and Listowel Cyclones, both in Blyth, on the schedule for March 3 and March 5, respectively.
The U18 Rep team won its first playoff game by a score of 3-1 in Wingham over the Ironmen on Feb. 20, but have since lost their next two to the AEMHA Ice Dogs and the Goderich Sailors. The team will now play the Huron-Bruce Blizzard in Brussels on March 1 and the Walkerton Capitals on the road on March 3.
With three losses under their belt, the U21 Crusaders haven’t had the start to the playoffs that they probably wanted, but the team is back in action again tonight, hosting the Mid-Huron Huskies in Brussels, followed by a March 2 game with the Mitchell Meteors on the road.
Looking ahead in regular season action tonight, the U8 White team will host the Mid-Huron Huskies in Brussels and the U9 MD team will play the Owen Sound Junior Attack, also in Brussels.
The next day, the U8 Burgundy team will play the Howick Hornets on the road, the U6 team will play Huron-Bruce in Lucknow, the U9 MD team will play the Kincardine Kinucks in Tiverton and the U7 White team will play the Mid-Huron Huskies in Hensall. Also on Saturday, the U11 LL team will begin play in the Central Perth Predators’ annual U11 LL tournament, beginning with games against the host Central Perth Predators, Kincardine Kinucks and Arran Elderslie Ice Dogs on Saturday.
On Monday, March 3, the U9 LL and U9 MD Crusaders teams will play the Goderich Sailors Black and White teams, respectively, in Blyth in the last regular season action of the week.
The following weekend, the U9 MD team will be busy travelling to Elmvale for the annual Elmvale Maple Syrup Tournament, beginning on Friday morning.