Admirals prepare for Halloween weekend

 

Todd Shearon

The Integrity Amherstburg Admirals earned four points last week and look to do the same this weekend as they head to Alvinston to battle the Flyers Oct. 30, before hosting the Essex 73s at the Libro Credit Union Centre on Nov. 1.

The Admirals defeated the Mooretown Flags 4-1 in Amherstburg and beat the Wheatley Sharks 6-4 on the road improving their second place record to 13-2-0-1.

“The points you can get early in the year are so crucial because teams are only going to get better,” said Admirals head coach Paul Bortignon. “The perfect example is Alvinston. They just beat Essex in overtime on Oct. 27. Now we’re going into their building on Oct. 30, where we didn’t win in last year. It’s a priority to win there this year.”

Other than the Admirals, the Flyers are the only team this season to keep the 73’s from adding to their wins column.

“I believe Alvinston is one of the best coached teams in the league,” said Bortignon. “We know they’re a team that plays hard and plays a fairly disciplined game. For us, it doesn’t go any better than to lay them before we get Essex at home on Sunday.”

Bortignon insists Alvinston’s win over Essex did his team a favour as far as home ice advantage in the playoffs goes.

Two weekend wins will lock the Admirals in a tie with Essex in the standings both with 27 points each and a game in hand for Amherstburg.

The remaining question is which Amherstburg goaltender will get the starting call against Essex as Connor Meyerink and Daniel Tonietto have both earned a win against Essex this season.

“There’s not an ounce of us looking past Alvinston on Oct. 30,” said Bortignon. “If we look past them we’re going to be back behind Essex trying to scrounge up points again.”