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Week Nine
Erin claims 4th place
Shamrocks Crown the Kings

A funny thing happened to the Penetang Kings on their way to first place. After dropping the Alliston Hornets on Friday night and readying for a rematch with the Hornets
on Sunday, the Kings were bitten 5-3 by the Erin Shamrocks at Centre 2000 on Saturday evening. For the Shamrocks, it was their second consecutive of the weekend and
it lifted them into fourth place in the Georgian Mid-Ontario standings.

The weekend began with a visit to Stayner on Thursday. After spotting the home team a 1-0 first period lead, the Shamrocks found the range and pumped four goals past
Evan Hancock to claim the 4-1 victory. Brandon Tomines counted his fifth of the season in the second period with assists to Brayden Abraham and Mitch Christopher.
Early in the third, newcomer Kai Trudeau notched his first of the season, on the powerplay, with an assist to Frank Zuccaro. Minutes later, Tomines fired his second of the
game, again assisted by Christopher, and Tyler Hogan put the game out of the reach as Frank Zuccaro set him up for his eighth goal of the season. Lucas Reid turned
aside 32 shots for the win.

On Saturday in Erin, it might have been a case of the Kings overlooking the young Shamrocks although Erin gets full marks for a gritty effort. Penetang opened the scoring
in the first as Tyler Lumley beat Colin Baird five minutes in to the period. However, Brayden Abraham would get that back as he stole the puck on a Penetang powerplay
and buried his eleventh goal of the season. Minutes later, Joel Thompson would bat home a rebound in the Penetang crease to give the Shamrocks a 2-1 lead after one
period.

Frank Zuccaro would net the only goal of the second period as he converted passes from Tyler Hogan and Kai Trudeau to give the homeside a 2 goal lead entering the
third. As the Shamrocks prepared to face the inevitable third period barrage, Jon Bell provided Erin with a three goal cushion with assists going to Thompson and Andrew
Ferraro. Peneang would get that one back as Shane Martin beat Baird but Tyler Hogan’s powerplay goal midway through the period would put the Shamrocks back in the
driver’s seat. Henry Glover and Frank Zuccaro would claim assist on the play. A five minute major penalty to Erin the dying minutes along with an empty Penetang goal
provided tremendous pressure but Colin Baird held the Kings to one late goal to make it a 5-3 Erin win.

The Shamrocks continue to make improvements in personnel and teamwork. A big difference has been the emphasis on defensive zone play and defensive decision-
making. Erin did a good job in limiting the odd-man rushes against the Kings and kept a lot of the shots to the perimeter of the ice surface rather than jamming up the goal
crease.

This week, the Shamrocks make a return trip to Stayner on Thursday before hosting the league-leading Alliston Hornets at Centre 2000 on Saturday at 7:30. Come out and
watch the action!

Week Ten
Shamrocks Cling to Fourth

Although there were high hopes going into the weekend, the Erin Shamrocks could muster only a single point in two games. Erin dropped a 5-4 overtime decision on
Thursday to the Stayner Siskins and followed it up with a 6-1 drubbing at the hands of the league-leading Alliston Hornets. The single point keeps the Shamrocks in fourth
place with a big weekend on the horizon for the young team.

In Stayner, Erin just could not get over the hump despite holding a number of leads. After spotting the Siskins an early goal, Frank Zuccaro drew the team even as he
whacked home a rebound of a Daniel Kearns shot. Ryan Bottum also drew an assist. Early in the second, a great individual effort by Brandon Tomines put the Shamrocks
in front. Tomines beat the Stayner defenceman to the puck, cut to the net and slid it under the Stayner keeper. Bottum drew his second assist of the night along with
Brayden Abraham. Stayner would respond less than a minute later but newcomer Blake Lovell would net his first of the year, on the powerplay, as he rifled home a shot
from the slot to make it 3-2. Bottum gained his third assist of the night on the powerplay goal. The Siskins would roar back again and tie it before the end of the second
period.

Midway through the third, Zuccaro would restore the lead with his second goal of the night. Bottum gained his fourth assist on the night and Balke Lovell added his second
point. However, Stayner would respond with the equalizer minutes later. Erin appeared to win the game in regulation as Andrew Ferraro tucked the puck behind the
Stayner goalie only to have it waved off as the referee wasn’t certain. In a furious overtime, the Shamrocks would just finish killing a penalty before the Siskins put one
behind Colin Baird to gain the extra overtime point. While it was a solid offensive display by the Shamrocks, the defensive side of the puck was somewhat suspect.

After a solid home game the week before against the Penetang Kings, the home side was looking for more of the same. However, the Hornets would waste little time in
establishing their dominance. Two goals in the first ten minutes would give Alliston the lead before Brayden Abraham would get Erin on the board. Ryan Bottum drew an
assist on the goal. The Hornets would add another before the end of the period to take a two goal lead into the first intermission.

The second period would belong to Alliston as they counted three times, two off the stick of former Shamrock Thomas Faris. Alliston’s polish and experience would show
through as they carried the play for most of the period. Erin came on and played a much better third period and made Alliston goaltender Jon Porretta earn the win as they
swarmed the Hornet goal only to be turned aside. Colin Baird took over from Lucas Reid in the third and held the Hornets off the score sheet for the final twenty minutes.

This is a big weekend for the Shamrocks as they play two games against teams chasing them in the standings. On Friday, Erin makes the trek to Midland and then return
home to face the Stayner Siskins on Saturday and Centre 2000 at 7:30.

Come out and give your support to this young team!

Week Eleven
Shamrocks drop the Siskins

In one of their better defensive efforts of the season, the Erin Shamrocks disposed of the Stayner Siskins 3-1 in Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C action on Saturday. Some
timely goalscoring could have mad it a 4 point weekend but the Shamrocks dropped a 3-2 decision in Midland on Friday. The two points keep the Shamrocks in fourth
place midway through the regular season schedule.

On a wintery night in Midland, the Shamrocks never did “find their legs” after a lengthy bus ride. Midland opened the scoring three minutes into the game but the
Shamrocks would square it late in the period as Cody Murphy’s blueline blast, on the powerplay, found the net. Frank Zuccaro and Andrew Ferraro drew assists. The Flyers
took control of the score in the second on two goals by Ben Raney to take a 3-1 lead after two periods. The lone goal of the third came with five minutes remaining as
Frank Zuccaro deflected a Trevor VanAlstine point shot, again on the powerplay, to draw the visitors to within a goal. That would be all the scoring on this night, even
though Erin outshot the Flyers 48-22. The Shamrocks seemed content to shoot from the periphery without providing any distractions for the Midland goaltender while the
Flyers made the most of their few chances.

On Saturday, the Siskins appeared to have opened the scoring early only to have the goal disallowed by a spearing penalty. On that man advantage, Erin hit the board as
Tyler Hogan notched his tenth goal of the season, assisted by Frank Zuccaro. The Shamrocks made it 2-0 as Blake Lovell found the net after a couple of nifty moves.
Zuccaro and Hogan drew assists on the goal. Early in the second period, Brayden Abraham counted his team-leading thirteenth goal of the season as he fired a leaser past
the Stayner netminder. Mitch Christopher and Brandon Tomines counted helpers. The Shamrocks spent considerable time on the powerplay as an undisciplined Siskin
squad wore a path to the penalty box. However, the Stayner goaltender kept his team in the game.

The only goal of the third period came off the stick of Stayner’s Tyson Alexander as he broke the shutout with a “kuckleball” from the face-off circle that handcuffed Colin
Baird. The Shamrocks outshot the Siskins 43-25 on the night and carried much of the play.

Points will be hard to come by this weekend as the Shamrocks travel to Alliston on Friday to meet the league-leading Hornets. Alliston is the only team in the league that
Erin has yet to beat. On Saturday, in a game sponsored by Rayburn Construction, the Shamrocks will host the third-place Fergus Devils. Come out and be a part of
Shamrock hockey and buy a chance to win $1000 in the “Shoot for Loot” contest.

Week Twelve
Two Huge wins for the Shamrocks

You could have made some money if you had bet on the Erin Shamrocks to come out of the weekend with four points. After all, they were on the road in Alliston where the
21-2 first-place Hornets were riding a home unbeaten streak and then the 16 -5 Devils were visiting on Saturday. However, Erin rode great goaltending performances and
sprinkled in some timely scoring to dump the Hornets 7-3 and the Devils 6-3 to maintain their fourth place standing in the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C standings.

In Alliston, it was the “Colin Baird Show” as he made over 45 stops to lift the Shamrocks to victory. It was also a case of “scoring chances finished” as the Shamrocks made
the most of their chances, hanging a “7 spot” on the Hornet goalies. After spotting the Hornets an early lead, the Shamrocks roared back with four first period goals to put
Alliston in a big hole. Brayden Abraham opened the scoring with assists to Brandon Tomines and Mitch Christopher. Abraham added his second on the powerplay from
Tomines and Trevor VanAlstine to put Erin ahead and Frank Zuccaro made it a two goal lead as he took passes from Blake Lovell and Tyler Hogan. The back-breaker for
the Hornets came with seconds remaining in the period as Tyler Hogan would make it a three goal lead, assists going to Zuccaro and goaltender Baird.

The only goal of the second period completed the hattrick for Brayden Abraham, again assisted by Tomines and Christopher. Alliston pressed in the third only to see
Zuccaro notch his second of the night three minutes into the third. Henry Glover drew the assist. The Hornets responded with a couple of powerplay goals before Zuccaro
claimed his hattrick with an empty-netter on a helper from Lovell. It was Baird’s game to win as he kept his team in the game and gave them a chance to win.

On Saturday against the Devils, the Shamrocks wasted little time scoring a minute into the game on their first shot as Andrew Ferraro buried a pass from Blake Lovell. That
lead would last until midway through the second period as Tyler Hogan took a behind the back pass from Blake Lovell and beat the Fergus goalie just under the bar with a
wicked shot. Seconds later, Brayden Abraham would notch his 17th of the season, assisted by Garrett Williams to make it a three goal lead only to have the Devil’s Dylan
Cunningham respond with a powerplay marker. However, the Shamrocks would extend the lead with two more goals in the period as Jon Bell and Andrew Ferraro would
make it 5-1 at the end of the second.
Matt Angell’s powerplay marker would stretch the lead to 6-1 before Fergus would add a couple of late goals to make it respectable. Colin Baird was again the star of the
show as he again gave his team a chance to win. Blake Lovell had three assists on the night, giving him 8 points in his five games with the Shamrocks. Busiest guy in the
rink was the timekeeper as close to 100 minutes in penalties were racked up by both teams. The Ref didn’t appear to be in any hurry to get home.

This week sees the Shamrocks play three games in three nights as they travel to Schomberg on Thursday, Penetang on Friday and then a return date with the Kings at
Centre 2000 on Saturday at 7:30. Penetang leapfrogged the Hornets into first place this weekend but the Shamrocks have quietly put together a three game win streak by
virtue of some solid goaltending and timely scoring.
Come out and see some exciting junior hockey action!

Week Thirteen
All or None
It was one of those weekends. Three games, three shutouts, only one of them a win. The Erin Shamrocks hung on to fourth place in the Georgian Mid-Ontario Jr. C league
with a 5-0 shutout of the Schomberg Cougars on Thursday only to be handed a 5-0 and 6-0 loss at the hands of the first-place Penetang Kings on Friday and Saturday.

In Schomberg, the Shamrocks got out in front early and controlled the game from start to finish. Blake Lovell opened the scoring a minute into the game as he took passes
from Henry Glover and Tyler Hogan and beat the Schomberg netminder with a blast to the top corner. Minutes later, on the powerplay, Frank Zuccaro threaded a pass in
front of the net to Lovell who made it 2-0. Paul Jannetta also drew an assist on the play. The Shamrocks continued to exert pressure on the Schomberg net but goaltender
Aaron Green kept the visitors off the sheet again until the third period. Frank Zuccaro made it a 3-0 score two minutes into the third period as he took a Blake Lovell pass
and deposited it past Green and then Zuccaro followed that up with his 14th of the season to make it 4-0. Henry Glover and Matt Angell drew assists. Erin finished the
scoring, on the powerplay, as Trevor VanAlstine’s point shot deflected off a Schomberg defender and into the gaping cage to make it a 5-0 final. Paul Jannetta and
Brayden Abraham assisted on the VanAlstine goal. Colin Baird claimed the shutout on a light night of work as he stopped 22 shots while the shamrocks directed 51 at the
Cougar goal.

On Friday in Penetang, the Shamrocks appeared to open the scoring early in the first but the only three guys not seeing the puck in the net were, unfortunately, the three
officials. From there, the first-place Kings took over as they counted three times in the first period, twice in the second and finished with another in the third to take a 6-0
decision. The kings outshot the visitors 39-17 on the night and were full value for the win.

It was a better game on Saturday, even though it ended with a similar result. Penetang took a 1-0 lead late in the first period but the Shamrocks had their chances to tie
and take the lead only to be thwarted by some bad bounces and missed shots. On the defensive side, Lucas Reid was outstanding in the Erin goal, playing his angles to
perfection and smothering all rebounds. It would not be until midway through the third period that the Kings would “find another gear” as they took advance of every
opportunity to score four goals in six minutes to ice another win. From there, it got a little silly with a few scrums and some after-the-whistle activities that marred an
otherwise good game. Erin simply ran out of gas as they completed their third game in three nights but the Kings showed why they are the two-time defending provincial
champions and remain a favourite to repeat.

The Shamrocks find themselves with two big games on the horizon as they travel to Midland on Friday for a tilt with the fifth place Flyers and then return home to host the
sixth place Stayner Siskins. The Shamrocks are currently nursing some injuries and will be going with a short bench this weekend. Saturday’s game is a 7:30 start at Centre
2000. Be there to support our local team!

Week Fourteen
An Opportunity Lost
The Erin Shamrocks had a couple of wins on their Christmas list the week before the holidays but came away with a lump of coal as they dropped a 2-1 decision to the
Midland Flyers on the road and followed that up with a 5-4 loss to the Stayner Siskins at home on Saturday. The results drop the Shamrocks a couple of points behind the
Flyers for home ice advantage in the first round of the Georgian Mid-Ontario playoffs.

In Midland, it was a familiar story as the Shamrocks held a decisive shot advantage in the game but would fail to capitalize. After spotting the Flyers a 1-0 lead, Erin would
press for the equalizer and get it off the stick of Frank Zuccaro, assisted by Garrett Williams. However, seconds after the Shamrocks tied it, the Flyers would regain the lead
and would hold that score through the final twenty minutes for the win. Colin Baird took the loss in net as the Shamrocks would outshoot Midland 38-22 on the night.

On Saturday, the Shamrocks would trade goals with the Siskins throughout the game but never gain the two goal advantage that might have sunk the visitors. Mitch
Christopher would open the scoring on the powerplay as he completed passes from Blake Lovell and Jon Bell. Minutes later, the Siskins would respond but Frank Zuccaro
would count his 16th of the season, from Tyler Hogan, to give Erin a 2-1 lead after the first period. Five minutes into the second period, Stayner would tie the score but
Trevor VanAlstine’s powerplay goal would restore the Shamrock lead at the end of the second. Blake Lovell and Brayden Abraham drew assists on the play.

The Siskins would tie the game early in the third period but Mitch Christopher’s second of the night and seventh of the season would put Erin ahead again. However, a
shorthanded marker by the Siskins and then a “buzzer-beater” with seconds left in the game would give the visitors the win. It was a tough loss for the Shamrocks against a
team struggling in the standings – one of those that should not get away.

This weekend (December 28th and 29th) would see the Shamrocks travel to Fergus for a tilt with the third-place Devils and then host a visit from the Schomberg Cougars on
Saturday at Centre 2000. The following week, the Shamrocks experience a rare one-game weekend as they host the Midland Flyers at Centre 2000 on Saturday January
5th. With the playoffs a month away, it is time to get the team healthy, add a few missing pieces and get on a roll if the team is going to seriously contend this season.
With wins over each team in the league, this is a distinct possibility if the team gels at the right time

Week Sixteen
Saturday’s Game in Hillsburgh at 7:30
Shamrocks Slip to Fifth Place
The holiday season was not kind to the Erin Shamrocks as they posted one win in three games, capping it off with a 4-1 loss to the Midland Flyers on Saturday at Centre
2000. The Shamrocks had earlier been clubbed 10-4 by the Fergus Devils and had downed the Schomberg Cougars 8-5. With the loss to Midland, Erin slips to fifth place
in the Georgian Mid-Ontario standings with plenty of work to do with the playoffs less than a month away.

In Fergus, the Devils counted four first period goals to put the Shamrocks behind the eight ball from the beginning. The Devils outscored the Shamrocks 4-2 in the second
period and then played them even in the third period for the 10-4 result. Lucas Reid took the loss with 20 minutes of work and left the game with an injury while Colin Baird
played the second and third. For the Shamrocks, Frank Zuccaro led the scoring with a goal and two assists while Blake Lovell chipped in with a couple of helpers. Other
goalscorers were Tyler Hogan, Trevor VanAlstine and Brayden Abraham.

Against the Cougars, the Shamrocks built a 5-1 lead early in the second period only to see the Cougars claw back to make it 6-5 after two periods. From there, newcomer
Garrett Mott took over in net and shut the door on the visitors to nail-down the much-needed win.

Brayden Abraham led all scorers with three goals while Mitch Christopher was good for three assists. Tyler Hogan had two goals and an assist and Jon Bell notched a
couple of goals of his own. Blake Lovell, Frank Zuccaro and Matt Angell also added two points each.

On Saturday, in a game sponsored by Ontario Laser Rentals, the Shamrocks gave up the opening goal but tied it early in the second as Blake Lovell shoveled home the
tying goal with assists going to Matt Angell and Garrett Williams. However, the Flyers would count two more in the period and cap it off with another late in the game to
claim the road win. Garrett Mott played well in a losing role in the Shamrock goal but it was the inability of the offence to exert pressure in tight on the Midland goal that
made the difference.

Erin had owned the Flyers over the past five years but the Midland team has claimed five wins in six games with the locals this year. While the Shamrocks have outshot the
Flyers in each game this year, Erin has been content to shoot from the outside rather than taking it to the net and providing traffic in front. At this level, what the goaltender
can see, he will usually stop. The Shamrocks will need to find a solution to this as it would appear that this will be the first-round playoff matchup for the Shamrocks.

The Ontario Hockey Association announced that Erin rookie Frank Zuccaro was the “Player of the Month” for December. In ten games, Zuccaro notched 9 goals and 7
assists to claim the award, the first for an Erin player in several years.

This week, the Shamrocks travel to Alliston for a date with the Hornets and then host the Schomberg Cougars at the Hillsburgh Community Centre on Saturday at 7:30 pm.

Week Seventeen
Another Friendly Visit to Hillsburgh
The Erin Shamrocks found their annual visit to the Hillsburgh Community centre to their liking as they stomped the Schomberg Cougars 6-1 on
Saturday evening. Coupled with their 6-3 defeat in Alliston on Friday, the Shamrocks find themselves with some work to do if they hope to claim
fourth place and a home ice advantage in the first round of the Georgian Mid-Ontario playoffs.
In Alliston, the Shamrocks played one good period and against a veteran team like the Hornets, that is not enough. Erin opened the scoring as
Brandon Tomines swatted home a rebound at the side of the net. Matt Angell drew an assist on the play. Tomines had the chance to make it 2-0
but was foiled on the penalty shot attempt by Alliston netminder Troy Dowswell. The Hornets tied the game minutes later but Jon Bell restored the
lead on the powerplay as he cashed in a Henry Glover rebound. The second period belonged to the Hornets as they counted three times to take a 4-
2 lead into the third period. The Hornets added to their margin in the third as Jon Bell closed out the scoring for Erin, again on the powerplay, with
assists going to Brad Ethier and Tyler Hogan. Colin Baird faced over 40 shots in a losing effort for Erin.
On Saturday in Hillsburgh, in a game sponsored by Chantler’s Enviro-services, the Shamrocks wasted little time hitting the scoresheet. Trevor
VanAlstine connected five minutes into the game and Blake Lovell followed that up eight seconds later to make it 2-0. The Cougars would notch one
of their own on the powerplay to make it close after one period.
Early in the second period, Mitch Christopher would restore the two goal lead as Brayden Abraham set him up to make it 3-1. That line continued to
click as Lovell buried his second of the game, from Christopher and Abraham, to make it a 4-1 game after two. The Shamrocks would add two more
in the third period off the stick of Mitch Christopher and Andrew Ferraro, to close out a 6-1 victory. Garrett Mott faced 30 shots in the Shamrock net
and was sharp all evening. On the night, Christopher counted 5 points, Blake Lovell had three and Brayden Abraham and Trevor VanAlstine two
apiece.
The Shamrocks get a chance to climb closer to fourth place with a visit to the Midland Flyers on Friday night before returning home to face the first
place, defending Ontario champs from Penetang on Saturday at Centre 2000. Come out and be a part of junior hockey in Erin and Hillsburgh!

Week Eighteen
Erin Grounds The Flyers

In a must win game in their quest to gain home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs, the Erin Shamrocks dumped Midland 4-2 on the road to climb to within
three points of the fourth place Flyers with five games left on the Georgian Mid-Ontario schedule. The Shamrocks followed that up with a 7-1 loss to the first place
Penetang Kings at home on Saturday. The three game weekend on the horizon looms large in determining the final playoff placements.

In Midland, the Shamrocks opened the scoring late in the first period as Brandon Tomines clicked for his ninth goal of the season, assisted by Frank Zuccaro and Tyler
Hogan. After Midland tied the game early in the second period, the same combination connected on an Erin powerplay as Frank Zuccaro made it 2-1 with assists to Hogan
and Tomines. Two minutes later, Mitch Christopher made it a two goal lead as he hit for his tenth goal of the season, assisted by Blake Lovell. However, Midland would
close the gap to one before the end of the period. The only goal of the third was off the stick of Joel Thompson as he fished the puck out of a jungle of skates and fired it
home to restore the two goal lead and seal the win. Paul Jannetta and Brad Ethier assisted on the insurance goal. Colin Baird played a strong game in net for the visitors
and claimed the important victory.

On Saturday at Centre 2000, it was a case of the Penetang Kings finishing their chances while the Shamrocks had little luck around the net. After opening up a two goal
lead in the first period, the Shamrocks took it to the Kings in the second but could not solve the Penetang netminder. A couple of goal posts and and opportunities around
the open net went unrewarded as the Kings built their lead to 4-0 after two periods. It was 7-0 before Brayden Abraham’s twenty-second goal of the season, on the
powerplay, broke the goose egg. Mitch Christopher and Henry Glover drew assist on the lone goal of the night for Erin.

The second last week of the season is a busy one for the Shamrocks with road trips to Stayner (Thursday) and Fergus (Friday). Erin returns home to host the second place
Alliston Hornets on Saturday at Centre 2000. While the first round playoff matchup will be the Midland Flyers, it is yet to be determined who will claim the home ice
advantage.

With the playoffs only two weeks away, come out and support your home town team