THE 77\'S TAKE 2 OF 4 POINTS UP NORTH

On Friday morning the 77\'s packed up the bus minus some key individuals, including Captain Brent Belanger, Nathan Joy, Jackson Cain, Kyle Harvey, Ryan Fitzsimmons and Mike Wilkinson, all sitting out the weekend for various reasons, and headed north for a weekend against divisional opponents, Elliot Lake Bobcats and the Espanola Kings.

On Friday night both teams came out hungry and ready to play.  The Bobcats took control of the game early however goaltender Tyler Last held the game in check making several extraordinary saves to keep his team in it.  A first period goal by Toby Kathan gave the visitors the lead however a Bobcat equalizer quickly followed knotting the game at one.  The game would remain tied until the midway mark of the third when the home side banged in a rebound taking the lead for good taking this one 2-1.  One of the best performances of the year was had by the 77\'s on Friday night and hopefully plenty was learned for the future.

The affair between the 77\'s and Espanola Kings on Saturday night however was far from an epic matchup.  The Kings, having traded some of their key players to their co-owned team in Richmond Hill in hopes of bolstering the Rams lineup, had only 12 skaters and 1 goalie to take on the red and black.  The truth need not be spoken as to the quality of this matchup as any indepth commentary would be giving it undue deserve.  The Kings, who actually held a 2-0 lead after one period, took yet another one on the chin losing 12-6 to visiting 77\'s.

The red and black have a couple of days off to regroup before hosting divisional rivals the Brock Bucks on Wednesday, February 4, at the Guthrie Arena, puckdrop is 7pm.  This is the Bucks\' first trip to Oro-Medonte and if Wednesday\'s game is anything like the last meeting this one should be a goody!!