The Road to Victory, 19 Years in the Making
Playoffs were full swing and our boy’s hockey team proved to be in a more than ample position to bring home the win. The boys finished the regular season with 11 impressive wins and only 1 loss. This had them in the number one spot going into playoffs.
The team played their first playoff game on Thursday February 5th against Monsignor Doyle. With the Panthers down a goal and only 2 minutes on the clock in the 3th period, our boys once again demonstrated their uncanny ability to come out on top. “We had big plays at the right times” recollects Haddaway, “including Matt [Patterson] scoring a goal in the last two minutes to tie.” And when everybody believed the game was over, a goal by captain Cam Dorland with 15 seconds remaining sent the boys to the semi finals. “[We wouldn’t be] here talking about our team today if Cam hadn’t scored that goal with 15 seconds to go,” Haddaway explains.
The boys went on to play the semi against Sir John A. MacDonald. Yet again the Panthers triumphed in a 4-3 final. Goals scored by Nick Moir, Jake Rae (2), and Ryan Maksmyk all contributed to the thrilling victory. The boys are a strong, united force “right from our goal tending to our defense and forwards, we really get contributions from everybody” observed Haddaway.
The team then played their second semi final and once again, the Panthers out played SJAM in another 4-3 final. With goals scored by Matt Patterson, Cole Janson, Ryan Maksymyk, and Matt Walsh, the team advanced into the finals which were held Thursday February 19th. “All of us want to win a championship” said Haddaway before the game.
This dream of winning a WCSSAA after a 19 year drought finally became a reality when the boys played against Grand River Collegiate Institute on home ice. The arena was roaring with Panther pride as the team played their hearts out. Cam Dorland opened up the scoring for the team and the second and game winning goal went to Mathew Walsh making it a 2-1 win! With the banner hanging high in the gym and the school’s spirit at an all time high, it’s safe to say that everyone at Preston is proud to be Panther after such a remarkable season from the PHS boys hockey team.