Mayor's Cup finals taking shape after open division upset

The finals in the 2006 Mayor's Cup is beginning to take shape as the Pee Wee Arena played host to a pair of semi-final games on Thursday, one in each of the tournament's two divisions.

The first semi-final game saw Stitch King/Weedman defeat the Mohawks 5-3 in the 33+ Division. The win came thanks to a three-goal first period, which paced Weedman to the win after the Mohawks battled back to make the game close late.

Jody Wilson, who also suits up in the Open Division with McDougall Fuels, opened the scoring midway through the opening period to set the ball rolling for Weedman. Just 59 seconds after Wilson opened the scoring, Tim Burton gave Weedman a 2-0 lead. Joe Marelli capped off the first period scoring outburst for Weedman with a goal just 52 seconds after Burton's goal, giving Weedman a 3-0 lead, thanks to goals just 1:51 apart.

Wilson increased the lead to 4-0 just 21 seconds into the second period before Rick Reckla scored at 8:21 for the Mohawks to cut the Weedman lead to 4-1. Mike Johnson, who already had an assist in the game, scored with 1:11 remaining in the middle period to restore the four-goal lead for Weedman heading into the third period.

Greg MacLean pulled the Mohawks to within three just under two minutes into the third period, but not even a late goal from Al Bouschor could held as the Mohawks could not find their way to a victory as they dropped the 5-3 decision.

The win sends Weedman into the finals on Saturday night and also leaves the squad with a perfect record of 6-0 heading into the game. Their opponent will be determined on Friday night when second-seeded Tulloch Engineering meets up with third-seeded Mr. Transmission at 8 p.m.

In the Open Division semi-final, third period goals by Greg Mizzi and Nathan Inch gave Assante/Mr. Transmission an 8-6 victory over the top-seeded Clarica/Blueliners Bulls. The Bulls had entered the game as the only undefeated team in the Open Division.

Mr. Transmission opened up the scoring and looked to be in control as they scored three early goals to open up a 3-0 lead. Mizzi, Ken Reed, and Lane Burton scored before the frame was half over to open up the lead. Gary Roach and John Bossio cut into the lead for the Bulls, scoring just over two minutes apart to send the game into the second period with Mr. Transmission leading 3-2.

Roach capped off the Bulls comeback as he scored just 1:15 into the second period, only to see Burton score his second goal of the night three minutes later.

The two teams continued to trade goals in the period as Dan Galarneau tied the game for the Bulls and gave them their first lead of the night a short time later. Mizzi scored his second goal of the night to get Mr. Transmission back on even terms. Burton scored his third goal of the period late to give Mr. Transmission a 6-5 lead heading into the third period.

Roach's third goal of the night for the Bulls set the stage for Mizzi's third goal, the game-winner and a breakaway goal in the final minute by Inch to seal the Mr. Transmission 8-6 victory.

Mr. Transmission moves on to face the winner of Friday night's Open Division semi-final between Foggy Notions and Soo Kings at the Pee Wee. The game, set for 9:30 p.m., will follow the 33+ Division semi-final between Tulloch Engineering and Mr. Transmission.

The championship games are set for Saturday night at the Pee Wee with the 33+ final at 8 and the Open Division final at 9:30 p.m.

*** AWARD WINNERS:

Open Division

Most Valuable Player - Gary Roach (Clarica/Blueliners) Top Scorer - Gary Roach (Clarica/Blueliners) Top Goaltender - Frank Novello (Soo Kings) Best Defenseman - Chris Felix (Foggy Notions) Most Sportsmanlike - Steve Luxton (Assante/Mr. T.)

33+ Division

Most Valuable Player - Al Bouschor (Mohawks) Top Scorer - Bill Carriere (Weedman) Top Goaltender - John Shamess (Mr. Transmission) Best Defenseman - Randy Latvinen (Weedman) Most Sportsmanlike - Richie Donahue (Microage/Smack Daddy's)

*** MAYOR'S CUP SCHEDULE & SCORES:

PW = Game played at the Pee Wee Arena JRCC = Game played at the John Rhodes Community Centre

Monday, April 10

7:45 p.m. - 33+ - Stitch King/Weedman 2 Mr. Transmssion 1 9:15 p.m. - Open - Mr. Transmission/Assante Capital 5 McDougall Fuels 2

Tuesday, April 11

7:45 p.m. - Open - Clarica/Blueliners 9 Foggy Notions 6 9:15 p.m. - 33+ - Tulloch Engineering 4 Microage/Smack Daddy's 0

Wednesday, April 12

6:00 p.m. - 33+ - Mr. Transmission 7 Smack Daddies 4 7:30 p.m. - Open - Foggy Notions 14 Travelers Alumni 6 9:00 p.m. - 33+ - Stitch King/Weedman 6 American Mohawks 5 10:30 p.m. - Open - Mr. Transmission/Assante Capital 11 Travelers Alumni 6

Thursday, April 13

6:00 p.m. - 33+ - Tulloch Engineering 6 Smack Daddy's 2 7:30 p.m. - Open - Soo Kings 6 Mr. Transmission/Assante Capital 2 7:45 p.m. - Open - McDougall Fuels 9 Travelers Alumni 8 (OT Shootout) 9:00 p.m. - 33+ - American Mohawks 7 Microage/Smack Daddy's 5

Friday, April 14

6:00 p.m. - 33+ - Mr. Transmission 4 Tulloch Engineering 3 (OT Shootout) 7:30 p.m. - 33+ - Stitch King/Weedman 10 Microage/Smack Daddy's 2 7:45 p.m. - 33+ - American Mohawks 6 Smack Daddy's 3 9:00 p.m. - Open - Foggy Notions 12 McDougall Fuels 6 9:15 p.m. - Open - Soo Kings 9 Clarica Blueliners 8 (OT Shootout)

Saturday, April 15

3:00 p.m. - 33+ - Smack Daddy's 6 Microage/Smack Daddy's 3 4:30 p.m. - 33+ - Mr. Transmission 7 American Mohawks 5 6:00 p.m. - Open - Soo Kings 4 McDougall Fuels 3 (OT Shootout) 7:30 p.m. - 33+ - Stitch King/Weedman 7 Tulloch Engineering 1 9:00 p.m. - Open - Clarica/Blueliners 8 Mr. Transmission/Assante Capital 2

Sunday, April 16

No Games

Monday, April 17

8:00 p.m. - Open - Clarica/Blueliners 13 Travelers Alumni 7 9:30 p.m. - Open - Foggy Notions 6 Soo Kings 4

Tuesday, April 18

7:45 p.m. - Open - Soo Kings 8 Travelers Alumni 6 8:00 p.m. - 33+ - Stitch King/Weedman 14 Smack Daddy's 6 9:30 p.m. - 33+ - Microage/Smack Daddy's 5 Mr. Transmission 3

Wednesday, April 19

7:45 p.m. - Open - Foggy Notions 12 Mr. Transmission/Assante Capital 4 8:00 p.m. - 33+ - Tulloch Engineering 7 American Mohawks 4 9:30 p.m. - Open - Clarica/Blueliners 6 McDougall Fuels 5

Thursday, April 20

8:00 p.m. - 33+ - (semi-final) Stitch King/Weedman 5 American Mohawks 3 9:30 p.m. - Open - (semi-final) Assante Capital/Mr. Transmission 8 Clarica/Blueliners 6

Friday, April 21

8:00 p.m. - 33+ - (semi-final) 2)Tulloch Engineering vs. 3)Mr. Transmission (PW) 9:30 p.m. - Open - (semi-final) 2)Foggy Notions vs. 3)Soo Kings (PW)

Saturday, April 22

8:00 p.m. - 33+ - Final (PW) 9:30 p.m. - Open - Final (PW)

***