The Shiretown Blogger: Slammers claim game one

The Woodstock Slammers downed the Campbellton Tigers on home ice in game number one of MHL Meek Division semi-final playoff action on Saturday, March 3rd.

The Slammers claimed the first contest of the best-of-seven series 4-1, giving them a 1-0 overall lead in the series.

Slammers captain Andrew Langan and assistant captain Tim Campbell each had two points for the Slammers. Langan had one goal and one assist, while Campbell had two assists.

Tim Campbell had 72 total points with the Slammers
in the 2011-2012 regular season. In 45 games played,
Campbell scored 17 goals and had 55 assists.

Andrew Langan was able to boast 66 total points with the Slammers
in the 2011-2012 regular season.

The scoring was opened by Nick Huard at 5:23. Ben MacSwain scored an unassisted goal at 11:43, increasing Woodstock's lead to 2-0.

Nick Huard takes the face-off

Ben MacSwain posing for a picture for The Shiretown

Blogger during the warm-up for Saturday night's contest.

Campbellton slipped a power play goal past Slammers netminder Matt Murphy at 15:18, reducing the Slammers' lead to 2-1 and allowing the Tigers to get on the scoreboard before the end of the first period.

The local initiation program hockey squads entertained the crowd of 1,088 people during the first intermission with a shootout.

In period two action, Andrew Langan restored the Slammers' two-goal lead by dodging Tigers' goaltender Raphael Roy on a power play at 15:38. Period three remained scoreless, therefore, Woodstock's game winner was netted by Evan Carmody at 17:04.

Evan Carmody

Raphael Roy refused 32 of 36 shots faced by the Tigers, while Slammers netminder Matt Murphy only allowed one shot of the 24 he faced. The Slammers managed to score once in four power play opportunities, while the Tigers netted one power play goal despite being on the power play five different times.

Going into the playoffs, the Slammers were only missing one player from their roster. Colton Stairs was serving his final game of a three-game suspension for his connection to a post-game scrum on February 22nd. Stairs will return to the Slammers lineup for game two on Tuesday, March 6th in Campbellton.

Woodstock and Campbellton met on seven different occasions during the 2011-2012 MHL regular season. The Tigers were no match for the Slammers, as the Slammers defeated Campbellton at every meeting. The Slammers outscored the Tigers by a combined total of 39-18 during the regular season.

Game number two of the series is scheduled for Tuesday, March 6th at 7:30 pm at the Campbellton Memorial Civic Centre. The next Slammers home game of the series is expected to take place on Wednesday, March 7th at 7:30 pm at the Carleton Civic Centre. Come on out and support your Slammers--fill the CCC to capacity!

Bradley Greene led the Slammers with 74 total points in the

regular season.

Brett MacLean (#12

Phillip Fife

Brett MacLean and Phillip Fife

Ryan Purvis

In 16 regular season games (879 minutes) played with the Slammers, Sam Renault went defeatless. He finished the season with a 0.912 save percentage and 2.46 goals against average.