As I write this the Shelburne Muskies are on the eve of the final game of the 2011/2012 regular season. I can’t believe we have reached this point, the last four months have flown by. If everything goes as planned and the Muskies can make it to the WOAA final, that series won’t begin until the end of March. That would make the season over five months long, I don’t think a lot people realize just what a long grind it is.

Having said this, I don’t think anybody on the Shelburne Muskies will be complaining if we make it that far.

Our regular season was supposed to be done on the weekend but Saturday’s winter storm shut down the Lucknow area so our game with the Lancers was cancelled. Now, we have to travel to Lucknow on Tuesday night for a rare mid week game.

Tuesday’s game carries a lot of significance for the Muskies, if we win, then third place in the standings is ours heading into the playoffs and a first round match up with the Ripley Wolves.

After a really strong start, a four point night by Tristan Fairbarn and another shutout by Dave Davenport, we came away with a lop sided 12- 0 win.

With those four points Sunday, Fairbarn now leads the WOAA in goals and is one point off the lead in total points, it certainly has been an amazing season by the likeable Bradford, Ontario native.

You know a friend of mine said a really interesting thing to me a few weeks ago. He is originally from Scotland so he never knew what hockey was until he arrived in Canada 12 years ago.

Well, after watching the most recent episodes of the HBO 24/7 series he said to me that although he doesn’t know much about the game of hockey, he noticed just how unique the inside of a hockey dressing room is. Meaning, the relationship between players, coaches and trainers is so important and can really be the difference between success and failure.

I can honestly say that as we head into the playoffs, the group of people that make up the Shelburne Muskies are as close to a family as you can get.

Editors note:

The Muskies won their Thursday game 5-3 over Lucknow.

The Muskies will now play Ripley in the playoffs.

Game one in Lucknow on Friday. Game two in Shelburne - Sat., Feb. 4, 8:00 p.m.