Seniors Are Playoff Champions… Again!

Posted on May 12, 2008 at 1:20 pm by Clark Caughey

The Northern Cyclones senior team lifted their second consecutive NIIHA Playoff title after defeating Belfast rivals, the Bruins 2-1 after a penalty shootout. Having finished a poor third place in the league, the Northern Cyclones were determined not to end the season without picking up some silverware, if not for themselves, for netminder (and heart and soul of the Cyclones) Brian Morrow who would be playing his final games before hanging up the skates for the final time.

Having defeated East Coast Blaze in the semi-finals with only 7 players (due to an injury to Richard Gault and Clark Caughey serving the 3rd game of a 3 game suspension) the Cyclones faced their bitter rivals the Belfast Bruins in the final. With both teams having beaten each other convincingly during the regular season, this was always going to be a nail biter and it certainly lived up to that description.

The game finished in a 1:1 stalemate and penalties would be required to crown this seasons playoff champions. Cyclones netminder Brian Morrow stole the show, shutting out the Bruins on 3 of their 4 penalties and with Dave Nicolai, Dorinda Foot and Steven Ewen all converting on their penalties, the playoff trophy was the Cyclones for the 2nd season in a row.