AGAINST THE ODDS. Being outnumbered has never deterred Muskie veteran Luke Downey as he jostles for position in front of the Georgian Bay River Rats net this past Saturday night. Photo/MIKE MALONEY The Fines Home Hardware Shelburne Muskies played two crucial games the weekend, the first on Friday night against the Durham Thundercats in their barn and the second on Saturday night against the Georgian Bay River Rats at the Tank. Two wins would clinch a spot for the Muskies on the 'AA' side for playoffs.

It was an important weekend for the Fines Home Hardware Shelburne Muskies.

With only a few games remaining to play in the regular season and a playoff berth on the line, Shelburne had a chance to lock up the fourth and final spot of the WOAA Senior Men's AA playoff roster with a pair of wins.

A loss in either game would mean that their playoff aspirations would come down to the final weekend in games against Elora and Palmerston.

Friday night they made the trek north to Durham with a resolve to win this game.

With strains of O' Canada still echoing in the rafters, Bill Boyes dumped the puck into the Thundercats goal just nineteen seconds in, on assists from Nick Foreman and Greg Patton.

Sean Connor pumped another past the T-Cat netminder from Chris Ritchie and Chris Greer before the one minute mark had passed.

Rob Senay would get burned for one on the 'Cats powerplay when he let one slip past shortly thereafter.

Matt Lougheed answered back with a pair of goals, the first a short handed marker unassisted midway through the frame and his second from Patton on a power play.

Forman tallied his own power play goal from Patton finishing of the opening frame with Shelburne up by four.

Lougheed kept things rolling for the Fish, scoring goal number three on a power play from defense-mate Derrick Robson and Greer to earn his hat trick.

Ian Ellis one of the newest members of the team found his spot in the net from line-mate Shawn Pollard.

Sandwiched in between Muskie goals the T-Cats marked their second of the night, ending the frame with a 7-2 score in favor of the Muskies.

The final frame saw many penalties for both teams as well as two Thundercat goals and two Muskie goals.

Both goals for the boys in blue were scored on power plays, Adam Bonneveld from Foreman and Boyes and Greer from Connor and Lougheed.

Final score of this much needed win was 9-4 for the Muskies.

Saturday night back at the Tank, it was Fan Appreciation Night and Kids Jersey Night. Despite the weather, a good crowd was on hand for this the final home game of the regular season.

Again, Shelburne was quick off the mark with a Chris Greer unassisted goal just a minute into the game.

Captain Greg Patton next on the scoreboard with a power play goal from Greer and Luke Downey.

Ellis made it two in two nights with a goal from Kurtis Johnson and Lougheed followed by a Bill Boyes goal from Foreman and Adam Bonneveld.

The Rats would get one back when they popped one past Chris Lawrence to make it 4-1 at the end of 20 minutes.

Georgian Bay put a dent in the Muskie egos when they would score two to draw within one of the Fish before Bonneveld would team with Patton and Connor to restore some breathing room out front at 5-3.

Lougheed on assist from Bonneveld, and Greer from Connor and Downey wrapped up the Shelburne scoring while the Rats counted for one more to end the frame at 7-4.

Through the third, both teams would have their chances to no avail. At the final buzzer it was Shelburne coming out on top and with the win, a lock on a playoff berth.

The Muskies currently hold the number four spot on the North side of the W.O.A.A. League. With two more regular season games, the boys are still in fighting position to possibly move past Ripley into third.

Friday night, the Fish find themselves on the road against second place Elora Rocks while on Saturday, its across the way to Palmerston for their final date with the 81's.

Keep your eyes on the paper to find out when you can see the Fines Home Hardware Muskies in playoff action.