The Yarmouth Mariners gave fans a thrilling season finale.
Trailing Amherst 4-1 in the third period Sunday at Mariners Centre, Yarmouth scored three times to force overtime.
Grayson Pardy scored his team leading 22nd goal of the year, Cole MacLeod and Ryker Rougeau also lit the lamp in the third.
But Amherst’s Ty Peddigrew would end it at 3:55 of overtime, giving the Ramblers a 5-4 win.
Keegan Warren took the overtime loss in his 84th and final career regular season start.
The season comes to a close with a 19-25-4-4 record, good for 46 points.
Head Coach and General Manager Laurie Barron says the fan support was unbelievable on the weekend.
“We’d like to be cleaning up right now and getting ready for a playoff series. We did finish around .500 at home, so we can take solace in that. But that game sums up our season, we came up a little bit short,” said Barron after the game.
It’s the second straight year with no playoffs, that’s a first in franchise history.
“We need to be better,” added Barron.
“Two years in a row out of the playoffs is not good enough. We do have three first-rounders in the MHL Draft this year, we need to re-tool, and our 55 man roster is the envy of the league. We have some good building blocks.”
Saying goodbye to the 20’s
The Mariners honoured their four graduating players ahead of the game.
Goaltender Keegan Warren, captain Jano Zambakdjian and forwards Ryan Loveless and Liam Dutcher were given jerseys to mark their time as Mariners.
During Saturday’s game, billet families were honoured.
Ken Chetwynd graphic
MHL Playoffs are set:
The first round matchups have been determined for the MHL playoffs.
In the Eastlink South Division, the Centennial Cup host Summerside Western Capitals will face the Amherst Ramblers, and the Truro Bearcats will host the Pictou County Crushers for Game 1.
In the Eastlink North Division, the Grand Falls Rapids will take on the Chaleur Lightning, and the West Kent Steamers will face the defending champion Edmundston Blizzard.
