KAHNAWAKE — This year, the Kahnawake Mohawks, Akwesasne Bucks, Snake Island Muskies, Team Nova Scotia, St. Alert Miners, Capital Region Axemen and Ladner Pioneers are battling it out for the Presidents Cup and on Monday, August 26, the Ontario Senior ‘B’ Champions of 2019 made their debut in the Presidents Cup against the Ladner Pioneers (British Columbia).
The first period went to the Pioneers, as they outscored the Rivermen by sinking six early goals. But the Rivermen made some answers with goals by Jacob Bomberry, Wayne VanEvery and Zed Williams, unassisted.
Going into the second, the Pioneers kept it up with another two goals. While the Rivermen kicked it back with three more from Wayne VanEvery, Wayne Hill and Ian Martin.
With the score set to 8-6, the Pioneers moved forward with another goal to start the third. However, the Rivermen racked up three in a row with buries from Wenster Green, Wayne Vanevery and Greg Longboat Jr..
The Pioneers answered once more, but were pelted with another three consecutive goals by the Rivermen as Wayne Hill followed through with a single and Johnny Powless came up with a double.
This pulled the Rivermen ahead 13-10, and the Pioneers added one more in the final minutes of play. But this was cancelled by the last goal of the game from Zed Williams.
Overall, although the Pioneers outshot the Rivermen 51-44, it was the Rivermen that made more connection with their shots, making the final 14-11 and earning their first victory in the tournament.
The following day, the Rivermen matched with the St. Albert Miners.
They gave up the first goal to the Minors, but answered in minutes with a goal from AP Marshall Powless. The Minors answered once more, before a blitz of five goals came from the Rivermen through Johnny Powless, Zed Williams, Wenster Green, Adam Bomberry and Greg Longboat Jr..
They continued on into the second with two more goals from Brooker Muir and Wenster Green, as the Miners sent in three to eat at the deficit.
But in the third, Gates Abrams came through with a double and Brooker Muir with his second of the game as both sides burned three goals each.
Just like the previous game however, the Rivermen took 37 shots to the Miners 43 and came out on top for their second victory 12-8.
Their third game will take place on Wednesday, August 28, against the Kahnawake Mohawks at their home arena at 8 p.m..
The tournament will continue with gold medal games landing this coming weekend.
The Chiefs are a great team but make some temporary lapses that cause their defeat. They are not always focused as they need to be. Last nights loss in Peterborough was typical. WITH ONLY SECONDS LEFT IN THE GAME AND WITH MATHEWS ALREADY HAVING SCORED 4 GOALS EVERYONE IN THE ENTIRE BUILDING SHOULD HAVE KNOWN HE WOULD HAVE THE LAST SHOT. HE DID AND HE SCORED.
THE CHIEFS SHOULD SHADOW HIM THE ENTIRE GAME WITH THEIR BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER . WHEREVER MATHEWS GOES SO DOES HIS SHADOW. BELL WOULD BE A GREAT CHOICE.
HOPEFULLY THURSDAYS GAME WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT OUTCOME. YOU ARE A GREAT TEAM AND WORTHY PARTICIPANTS OF THE MANN CUP !