The Yarmouth Clippers (10-8-0, ranked #3) hosted the Southern Maine Class B Division Quarter-Final game versus Cape Elizabeth (8-10-0, ranked #6) to a sellout crowd at Travis Roy Arena in Yarmouth on Tuesday night (2/25). Having beaten the Capers both times in the regular season, it was now time for a young Yarmouth team to win the one that mattered most. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be.
Yarmouth stormed out early in the first period with some aggressive offense trying to set the pace for the game. Back-and-forth pressure ensued from both teams. The game was beginning to look like most Yarmouth versus Cape games. At 10:06 in the period, the referees allowed an offsides play to occur for the Capers which resulted in a bizarre goal that was never actually shot, but swatted by the offside, Caper hand from just inside the blue line.
Confused by the play and the non-call by the referees, Yarmouth had to regain their composure… and quickly. It’s always important to score the first goal in games like this, so the Clippers were forced to adjust to the sudden circumstances. A few late offensive heroics at the other end of the rink were unsuccessful for Yarmouth and the period ended with Cape up 1-0. Cape outshot Yarmouth 11 to 5 for the period.
Yarmouth’s hopes to battle back in the second period were soon squashed when Cape Elizabeth added a second goal to the board at the 3:53 mark. And if that wasn’t enough to bend the backs of the Clippers, Cape added another goal a mere 25 seconds later. Yarmouth was down 3-0. The cracks in the Clipper armor were exposed. A few power play opportunities for Yarmouth went by without any scoring improvement. Cape added a fourth goal with 1:28 left in the second period. Yarmouth was outshot, again, 9 to 8. The score was 4-0. The sails of the Clippers and their fans were deflated.
Less than a minute into the third period, the back of the Clippers were broken as the Capers scored on a power play opportunity. The lead was 5-0. Yarmouth kept their heads high and fought to the end, but there was nothing more they could do. Cape outshot Yarmouth 12 to 6. The Clippers’ season was over.
Yarmouth’s #3 ranking in the extremely competitive, Class B Southern Division exceeded the expectations of most, except for those of the players and coaches (…and parents). This is a special team of kids. The quarter-final game was the last for seniors, Justin Veilleux, Jacob Veilleux, Spencer King, Jack Buthy, Aidan Miller, Will Giese and Liam Ireland. They will be missed, but the fleet of young Clippers will be back next year with more varsity experience than most players their age. Stay tuned…
Yarmouth Hockey 