For the first time in two years, the Yarmouth Junior A Mariners will play in the MHL playoffs.
Their Eastlink South Division semi-final against the Truro Bearcats begins on the road tonight at 7.
The Bearcats won all six regular season meetings, three of them in a shootout.
Mariners defenseman and Captain Ryan Daley says playoffs can be a different story.
“It could go either way, Truro is a good team, but I believe we have the team to go all the way. We’re going to give it our all and find out.”
The Mariners have one player that won a league title last year, 20 year old back-up goaltender Justin Ritcey.
He says the key to a long playoff run is to keep emotions in check.
“If you win one, it’s great, you think about it for five minutes and then you forget about it because the next game it could be a completely different game. You have to ride momentum and hopefully our fans can get behind us and get this place rocking in the playoffs.”
Leif Hertz is expected to get the start in goal for the Mariners against Truro’s Justin Rioux.
The teams haven’t met in the playoffs since 2011, when the Mariners won that first round series in six games.
A large crowd is expected Saturday night at 7:30 when the Mariners host Game 2 of the best of seven series.
Game 3 will be in Truro on Monday, then the teams come back to Yarmouth for Game 4 next Wednesday.
In New Glasgow tonight, the other Eastlink South Division semi-final gets underway as the defending champion Pictou County Weeks Crushers host the Amherst Ramblers.
In Summerside tonight, Game 2 of the Eastlink North Division semi-final goes, with the hometown Western Capitals leading the Dieppe Commandos 1-0.
@MarinersHockey Head Coach/GM Laurie Barron talks playoffs ahead of Game 1 against Truro Thursday night. pic.twitter.com/OK5mQc2Qmv
— Y95 – CJLS (@CJLSRadio) March 14, 2017
