Mimico Mountaineers Split Weekend Home Series

PHOTO: SAM HOSSACK

It was a crucial weekend for the Mimico Mountaineers hosting the Oakville Buzz and Kitchener-Waterloo on back-to-back days. With a sweep there was a possibility the Mountaineers could force a three-way tie for second place in the OJLL standings. However, instead of a sweep they earned a split losing to Oakville 10-9 on Saturday, and beating KW 12-10 on Sunday.

Mimico and the Buzz renewed their QEW rivalry with a tight contest. Tied 7-7 after two periods Eddie Qu and Finn Thomson scored 28 seconds apart. Jack MacAlpine soon followed with his fifth of the season, and then Jake Dawick also had his fifth minutes later. A late too-many-players penalty against Oakville gave Mimico a power play, which Alex Roussel capitalized on with just a second remaining. With the net empty, they were unable to solve Evan Constantopopoulos, who made 46 saves for a 10-9 victory.

The game featured two of the top points getters in the OJLL: Will Sheehan from Oakville who had just two assists, and Mimico’s Finn Thomson who finished with five points (3 goals, 2 assists).  

It was a quick turn-around for Mimico who hosted Kitchener-Waterloo on Sunday. Once again tied 4-4 after the first period, the home side scored four straight goals through the second period, the last two from Isiah Moran-Weekes and Mark Watters in 24 seconds. KW would get two back though, and trail 8-6 after two. That gap was erased in the first two minutes of the third, kicked off when Zane Dalpe grabbed a loose ball from the corner and set up Caiden Merritt’s outside shot over a double team.

Dalpe and Thomson traded power play goals through the midway point of the period. Mimico then killed off 1:56 two men down, and responded with a goal. Merritt re-tied the game, but then the home side’s power play went to work. Weekes and Watters both scored on the power play after great moves to deke out their defenders and ice a 12-10 victory.

Finn Thomson led all runners with 10 points (2 goals, 8 assists), giving him 15 for the weekend, enough to move into second all-time in Mimico scoring (credit: @collgrimes). Isiah Moran-Weekes had seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) and his sixth hat trick.

Zane Dalpe led Kitchener-Waterloo with 4 goals, 2 assists. Ty Jesso beat him in points though with seven (2 goals, 5 assists).

Mimico’s home stand continues Tuesday against the unbeaten Orangeville Northmen (12-0). Kitchener-Waterloo travel to Brampton (4-7) Wednesday.