Drayton Icemen
| Drayton Icemen | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City | Drayton, Ontario |
| League | WOAA Senior Hockey League |
| Division | North |
| Operated | 2005-2011 |
| Home arena | PMD Drayton Arena |
| Colours | Blue, Grey, and Maroon |
| General manager | Steven Routenburg |
| Head coach | Steven Routenburg |
| Franchise history | |
| 2005-2011 | Drayton Icemen |
| 2011 | merged into Mapleton-Minto 81's |
The Drayton Icemen were a senior hockey team based out of Drayton, Ontario, Canada. They played six seasons in the WOAA Senior Hockey League.
Drayton previously had a WOAA Sr. Hockey Team, the Drayton Comets, who folded after the 1997-98 season. The Comets were Intermediate "C" Champions on two occasions, in 1989-90 and 1990–91, however they were unable to capture the WOAA Grand Championship.
WOAA Sr. Hockey came back to Drayton for the 2005-06 season, as they were awarded an expansion team, which was named the Icemen. In 25 games, the Icemen finished in last place in the 18 team league, with a 1-24-0 record. They scored 60 goals, and allowed 223. Drayton then played the Mildmay Monarchs in a best of three qualifying round, with the winner going to participate in the WOAA playoffs, however the Icemen were eliminated in two games, thus ending their season.
The Icemen had a bit more success in their second season, finishing with a 4-19-1 record, good for eighth place in the North Division, and sixteenth overall in the WOAA. The Icemen would then face the Georgian Bay River Rats in a best of three qualifying round, and the team won their first ever playoff series by sweeping the River Rats.
Drayton then faced the Milverton Four Wheel Drives in the "A" quarter finals, and in the first game were led by goaltender Ryan Cherrey as he made 66 saves in Drayton's 3-2 OT victory. Milverton stormed back and easily won the next two games, but Drayton evened the series up at two games with another surprising victory. The Icemen dropped game five by a 6-2 score, but put up a good fight in the sixth game before losing 3-2 in OT to be eliminated from the playoffs.
Drayton would have another long season with wins few and far between, as they finished the season with a 3-22-1 record, finishing in eighth place in the nine team WOAA North Division.
The Icemen would face the Shallow Lake Crushers in a best of three qualifying series, with the winner advancing to the WOAA "A" playoffs. Drayton would fall behind in the first game, trailing 4-3 in the third period, before making a comeback, and win the game 5-4 to take a 1-0 series lead. The Crushers would even it up with a 4-2 win in the second game, setting up a third and deciding game. In another close game, the Icemen and Crushers were tied at the end of regulation time, sending the game into a sudden death overtime. Drayton's Courtney Wilson would score the series winning goal, lifting the Icemen to the "A" playoffs.
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