MUSKIES Kevin Tuckey pops out from behind the Elora defence in Friday nights WOAA Senior Mens hockey action. Photo/MIKE MALONEY Twenty games later, the Shelburne Muskies are set to kick-off the “second season” this Saturday night at the CDRC when the team opens their best of five WOAA Northern Division quarter final play-off series against Palmerston.

Echoing the sentiments of all his players, coach Joe Bakes couldn't be more pointed in his words - "Bring it on, can't wait for it to start" .

While not quite the season they had hoped for, finishing off the regular schedule second to Elora in the North standings with a record of 15 wins and five losses - three of those coming in overtime. If this past weekend is any indication, the Muskies are more than ready to get on with the task at hand.

Playing in Elora on Friday night, the Fish put the Rocks on notice to watch out for them in the playoffs.

Jeff McCarty set the pace early for Shelburne, snapping a shot from the blueline that threaded its way past Rocks goalie Joe Amlinger to give the Fish a one-goal lead one minute and 31 seconds into the game. Derek Smith added to that just over two minutes later, zipping down the right side and wiring one home from the top of the face off circle to make it 2-0.

An interference penalty to Kevin Tuckey and slashing call against Luke Downey were opportunities too good to refuse for Elora's Richard Colwill and the Rocks power-play unit, who cashed in for a pair to tie it up at 2-2 heading into the second.

Brad Horan would put the Fish back in front just passing the midway point of the game only to have Elora reply off the top of the third with two to put the pressure back on Shelburne.

But again Smith answered the call with the help of Horan to tie the score at 4-4 with 6:21 remaining in regulation time, where the score would remain and send the two squads into overtime for the second time this season.

For the Muskies though, the end result remained the same as last time with Elora scoring late in the extra frame to keep their perfect season record intact, stealing away from this hard fought battle by both teams with a 5-4 win.

Back home Saturday with Walkerton in the visitors bench though, it was a totally different story.

Tied at 2-2 heading into the second on goals from Mac Arthur and Bill Boyes, Shelburne opened the taps in the second and kept putting the coal to the fire in the third with Zac Duerden, Chris Greer, Sean Connor and tuckey scoring singles while

McCarty and Horan tallied for two and Boyes adding another pair along the way to a 12-3 final.

Sunday saw Palmerston in town to wrap up the regular season with a make up game originally scheduled for back in December.

Having lost a heart breaker to Elora the night before in overtime, Palmerston seemed to be just going through the motions but the Shelburne offence was more than willing to feast on the 81's.

Connor lead the way for Shelburne with the hat trick and one assist to bring his season total to 27 points (12 goals- 15 assists) while Tuckey and Tristan Fairbarn each tallied for two. Smith ,Greer, Downey and Boyes rounded out the scoring for Shelburne as they went on to post a 11-1 decision.

The Muskies open the play-offs at home this Saturday night against those same Palmerston 81's.

Coach Bakes is quick to point out however that even with a couple of big wins over Palmerston in the regular season, his team can't go in their expecting a cakewalk. "Your never really sure what team Palmerston is going to show up with this season. They have been inconsistent all year but as they proved against Elora last weekend going down 6-5 in a shootout, they are more than capable of giving any team a run for their money so we have to come prepared to play".

Fans are encouraged to come out and support the Muskies in what promises to be a very exciting playoff run.