Quarter Finals begin.

The 2008 Lake City Cup playoffs began Tuesday in what would be considered a mismatch as the Rinkrats took on the Moose Light Shamrocks in game 1 of the best of 3 quarter final. The Rinkrats with only 2 wins in the regular season, entered the series knowing that one of those wins was against the Shamrocks, 5 to 3 on November 22nd '07. 
Moose Light showed why they are the top seed in the quarter finals, as they crushed the Rinkrats 9 to 2, to take the 1 game series lead.
Trevor Doyle and Paul Wright fired home hattricks, while Gord Dickie, Sebastien Decaens and Shane Gibbs rounded out the scoring for the Shamrocks. Gibbs also had 4 assists.
Kelly Serbu and Colin Peters replied for the Rinkrats. The 'rats hope to even the series on Thursday will have to stay out of the penalty box as the Shamrocks converted on 4 of 5 tries.

Game 1 of the Scotian Canadians, Your Fathers Moustache series also went Tuesday. Despite the 9 point differential, in the Moustache's favor, the regular season series was tied at 2 wins apiece. Your Fathers Moustache winning the first 2 games 8 to 6 and 4 to 3, while the Canadians won the last 2 games, including both team's season finally, by scores of 5 to 4 in overtime and 7 to 4.
In the series opener the Canadians continued their winning streak over YFM with a convincing 9 to 5 thumping. Scotian's powerplay was the key as they went 4 for 4. Canadians' Mike Sim and Danny Brewer led the attack with 2 goals each, other scorers were Jesse Ferguson, Don Murray, Allen Coyle, Troy Stevens and Doug Mollon. 
Regular season top scorer Sean Fraser buried a hattrick and a helper in the loss. Craig Eisner and Trent Boswick also chipped in with goals.
Your Fathers Moustache will look to tie the series next Tuesday or a good season will go for not.

Thursday night had the third quarter final series begin as the Bacardi Rangers faced the Secunda Mariners. The Rangers entered the playoffs on a five game losing streak and failed to beat the Mariners during the regular season. This all means nothing, because this is the start of a new season and it showed as the Rangers nipped the Mariners 3 to 2 to take a 1 game to nothing lead. Secunda jumped out to a 2 to 0 lead on Jamie Woods' 2  1st period goals. Bacardi's Reg Bowes answered with 16 seconds remaining in the 1st. Allan Lake tied the game at 2, 44 seconds into the period and then he fired home the game winner at the 14:33 mark. One of the Rangers biggest problems all season has been penatlies, too many. The series opener was no different, too many penalties, but the PK was working as Secunda went 0 for 5. The Mariners might remember that they trailled 1 game to 0 to the Rangers in last years semi final and went on to win the Lake City Cup.

In the final game of the week, it turned out to be the final game of the season for the Rinkrats as they bowed out gracefully 2 games to 0, losing 6 to 1 to the Moose Light Shamrocks. The Shamrocks will now wait with the Dartmouth Alpines to see who their semi final opponent will be. Just like in game 1, Shamrocks' Paul Wright scored their first 2 goals, others finding the twine were Steve Snell, Shane Gibbs, Sebastien Decaens and Rick Findlay. In what was the Rinkrats franchises worst season, got their lone goal from one of the originals Rob Ritchie. The Rinkrats will have to re-tool for next season.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our timekeeper Colin Matthews for all his work that he has done for league this season and ask all the players of the Lake City Gentlemen's Hockey League do the same when they are at the rink, thanks Colin.