Nov 04, 2024 | Mackenzie | 887 views
Applekings Begin Season 3-2-0
The Georgian Bay Applekings started the 2023-24 Inaugural Season 0-3-0 with a -16 Goal Differential. This season, they have had a strong start, going 3-2-0 with a -2 goal differential, but have come away with wins over 2 playoff teams in Creemore and Saugeen Shores.
The Applekings new additions have helped them get off to an above .500 start to the season through 5 games, including a 2-1-0 record on home ice.
A trio of newcomers, Matt Salituro, Austin Ulett and Derek Sweeney have got off to hot starts, producing at over a point per game. The Applekings have also got point-per-game production from returning players, Mackenzie Fleming, Evan Buehler, Mitchell Good, Noah Rowland and Jacob Robitaille.
Allan Menary has been solid in net thus far with a respectable .896 save percentage.
The Applekings began their season at home in front of 400+ against the Creemore Coyotes and came away with a 5-4 victory on home ice.
Game 2 was a sunday road trip with 13 skaters to Milverton, a team they have now played against 12 times in the last 12 months. The Applekings walked away with a 4-3 victory, despite only having 2 lines and being down 9-2 on power play opportunities throughout the game.
Game 3 saw the Applekings take on the defending AA champion, Minto 81s. This was a fast paced game by both teams and a close game til the last buzzer. Minot handed the Applekings their first loss by a score of 2-0.
Game 4 was a back to back the next day with a depleted 12 skater line up in Seaforth on a Sunday afternoon. The Applekings hung around until part way through the second period before the wheels fell off for a few quick strikes by the Centenaires. Applekings fell 5-1 in this game.
Game 5 went hand in hand with our Casino Night Fundraiser, in which we raised a little over $7200 for My Friends House - Collingwood. The Game portion of the evening was an eventful night with both teams finding the scoreboard plenty in an 8-6 win over the Saugeen Shores Winterhawks. The Applekings biggest highlights of the night were Salituros hat trick and keeping Luke Pither (leading scorer in the league) off the scoresheet.
The Applekings will look to build off their early successes and keep learning some new systems and players as we look to steam ahead into the playoffs this season.