Red Devils’ unbeaten season comes to an end

The Quinte Red Devils and Whitby Wildcats face off to start the third period. Wildcats lead 3-2. Photo by William Proulx

By William Proulx

BELLEVILLE – After 28 straight games, the Minor Midget Quinte Red Devils’ unbeaten streak has come to an end.

The team lost 5-3 to the Whitby Wildcats  Wednesday night.

Red Devils coach Patrick Shearer said his team lacked energy, which led to the team’s loss.

“This would grade as a C- for us,” said Shearer on the team’s overall game.

Shearer says that if the team is going to get back on the winning track, he wants to see a lot more compete from the players going into their next game.

The Wildcats opened the scoring when Stefan Palatsidis took advantage of a bad turnover by the Red Devils at the Wildcats blue line. Palatsidis came in on his own and scored the game’s opening goal on Quinte goaltender Anthony Popovich. The Red Devils tied the game late in the period when Tanner Sheppard scored his 15th goal of the season off a rebound kicked out by Whitby goalie Alex Wisco.

The Wildcats dominated the opening period, and picked right up where they left off when Palatsidis scored his second of the night, right off the draw just five minutes into the second period.

After a couple of failed power plays, Red Devils defenceman Colin VanDenHurk made a great play to score his eighth goal of the season. Whitby’s Justin Kyle answered quickly to give the Wildcats a 3-2 lead  going into the third period.

Jacob Roach’s early third period goal put the Red Devils down by two, but was answered when Quinte’s Ryan Smith notched his 10th of the season off  a great pass by VanDenhurk.

The Red Devils would try make a late push by pulling their goalie with 2:34 left on the clock, but the bounces were just not going their way. Stefan Palatsidis would hit the empty net to complete the hat trick.

The loss leaves Quinte with a record of 26-1-2 through 29 games.

Quinte’s VanDenHurk had a goal and an assist in the game and says that some games just don’t go your way.

“They’re a good working-hard team, and you’ve just got to come out to play,” said VanDenHurk on the loss.

With the win, Whitby proved that they are not to be taken lightly the next time the two teams meet later on in the season.

But Coach Shearer has other thoughts.

“When we are at our best, they can’t keep up with us like they did tonight,” said Shearer.

The Red Devils will have two practices over the weekend before they host the Kingston Jr. Frontenacs next Wednesday at the Yardmen.