A season that had started with such promise, just months ago, ended in disappointment this past weekend as the Shelburne Muskies found themselves eliminated from the playoff picture – for the second year in a row – by the Saugeen Shores Winterhawks.

After a heartbreaking loss to the Hawks in overtime of game seven in the WOAA Northern division final last season, Shelburne had made it their goal to prove that they were indeed the better of the two teams this year. After taking their two regular season games as well as game one of their quarter-final, the Fish looked to be well on their way to that objective before having their plans derailed by the boys from Port Elgin.

Yet, somewhere between games one and two, someone forgot to pass along the memo to Saugeen that explained the way most thought the series would go. That, mixed with some complaciency in the Muskies ranks and liberal dose of penalties, all combined to turn the series around and put Shelburne's back to the wall, trailing the series 2-1 heading into game four in Port Elgin on Friday night.

With the 'Plex packed as usual, Saugeen wanted to make the most of home ice advantage and started things off, just past the midway point of the first, on a goal by Brent MacDermid.

Zac Duerdin would get the Fish back on on an even keel late in the opening frame, teaming up with Chris Ritchie and Kevin Tuckey to tie the score at 1-1.

In the second period, Tristan Fairburn stepped up to the plate for Shelburne with a powerplay goal at 13:51, assisted by Sean Thompson. Two minutes later, the duo would combine again with Brad Horan adding to the mix for Fairburn's second of the night to give the Muskies a 3-1 lead heading into the third.

But again, as it would prove to be most of this series, penalties and power play goals would make the difference. With Tuckey serving two for elbowing, the Hawks turned the momentum back their way with a power-play goal six minutes into the third and never looked back from there.

They added three more over the remainder of regulation time to take a choke hold on the series with a 5-3 victory.

Facing a do-or-die situation, the Muskies knew they had to step things up for game five back in Dundalk on Saturday night.

Warren Sly would get Shelburne to the board first with his second of the playoffs, putting one past Winterhawks netminder Jeremy Beatty, unassisted, just under two minutes into the game.

But again as had been the case throughout the series, penalties would prove to be on of the Muskies undoings with Saugeen's Curtis Johnston scoring the first of three Winterhawk power-play markers. The two squads would trade another pair of goals towards the end of the first with Tuckey doing the honours for Shelburne to make it 2-at the start of the second.

A pair of unanswered Winterhawk goals in the second would however make the difference in this game,

Trailing 4-2 heading into the third, Shelburne made a valiant effort to get back into the game with goals from Richie and Derek Smith to tie the score at 4-4 and putting some spark back into the Muskies stride.

But that did not last for long as Saugeen roared back to regain the lead 14 seconds later then added some insurance with their third power-play goal of the game with 4:05 remaining.

Down, but not quite out, and the Fish on life support , Smitty fired the paddles one more time, combining with Zac Duerden and Fairburn as the clock wound down to 1:44.

Desperate for the equalizer, the Muskies pulled Rob Senay in favour of the sixth attacker only to get gaffed over the head one last time by an empty net goal with 42 seconds remaining, effectively end the season for Shelburne.

Saugeen would skate out the remaining seconds to seal the win at 7- 5 and head back down the river to Port Elgin having taken the series 4-1.

Heartbroken was the best word to describe the reaction of Shelburne coach Joe Bakes – a guy that bleeds Muskie blue. Choking back the emotion after the game, he acknowledged the hurt of losing "There are no words to describe it, it's a rough time. We just didn't do the little things right and played a bit undisciplined and it came back to haunt us". The biggest thing though that determined the winner was simply that Saugeen as a team wanted it more , "they never quit and just went and went and went".

Always one to stand behind his players, Bakes wanted to thank his players, in particular his veterans who have been with him during his five year tenure with the club, but also said he was tired and it was time for him to step away from the bench.

In particular he praised the work of Luke Downey for Shelburne. "I just can't say enough about this kid. He played hard and always did what was asked of him both on and off the ice".

Downey is one guy that saw his role with the team change over the last year. Fighting rules changes this season meant that Downey had to lose his enforcer gloves and step up his game which he did admirably, earning him the "A' on his jersey.

For his part, he had only good things to say about Bakes. “That guy coached his heart out. He brought us together and wore his heart on his sleeve. He backed us up all the way and took us to war time and time again.”

Knowing that there is going to have to be some rebuilding in the off season, a key to future success for the team will be bringing back guys that “play for the symbol on the front of the jersey and not the number on the back.”