Younger Admirals stepping into spotlight
By Christian Bouchard
Members of the Amherstburg Admirals celebrate a goal in the 1st period of Game 3 of the Great Lakes Junior ‘C’ Quarter-Final round. The Admirals defeated the Wheatley Sharks 5-4 in overtime and will look to clinch the series on Feb. 12 as they travel to Wheatley.
The Integrity Amherstburg Admirals are receiving a playoff push from two of their youngest players.
17 year-old Broden Meloche has helped lead the Admirals this season, leading his team in scoring with 44 points in 39 games. Meloche’s quality of play has continued throughout his three-playoff games as well. Meloche is currently averaging a goal and an assist in each contest and is second in the league with a total of eight points.
Meloche said a large part of his success comes from being partnered with line mate Dylan Muzzatti, who finished second on the team in points with 41. However, Meloche believes the goaltending received by 17 year-old Connor Meyernik will be the biggest factor in a deep playoff run.
“Conner (Meyernik) has been on another planet as of late,” said Meloche. “All year he’s been solid in net and has won us some games we didn’t deserve to win. You definitely need good goaltending for deep playoff runs and Connor gives us a great chance for one.”
Meyernik is now 3-0 in the playoffs and holds a 1.57 goals against average in the playoffs. He said playoffs are the best time of the year for him as the bigger the challenge, the more likely he is to succeed.
“Playing for my family and playing for all my boys it makes it that much easier to stay in it and go for the win,” said Meyernik. “I just play to have fun, that’s all I do. Times like these are fun for me. I like a good challenge when it’s intense like this.
Meloche’s line mate Muzzatti said the Admirals are in for a deep playoff run. He believes the playoffs are all that matters and it is exactly what the Admirals play for.
According to Muzzatti, pound for pound, the Admirals have the best overall team in the league when they come to play for a full 60 minutes. He sees a championship in the Admirals future.
“We’re here to win,” said Muzzatti. “We’re not goig to lose this year. We want it all and we’re probably going to get it all because we’re the best team in the league.
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