Toronto Power Wheelchair Hockey League – M.D. Cup Playoff Championship Final Week 3 Recap -

Finals (Week 3) Championship game – Bulldogs (9-9-2) vs. Kings (9-8-3).

Game 3 (Kings vs. Bulldogs) This is it, Winner Takes All / Do or Die the game where all the clichés come into play and with each side securing a lopsided win and resulting disheartening loss the field was leveled and the scene was set for an exciting finale.

Period One began and from the first whistle, both sides were showing they came to win. Several quality chances were exchanged but no one found the back of the net until just past the eight-minute mark. At 8:05 the Kings Isaac Vescio found David Donnelly in front of the Bulldogs net and he slid it by Bulldogs Keeper Mohit Sharma (1-0 Kings). It took until the dying seconds of the first frame for the Bulldogs to pull even when at 14:49 Jerry Mariano found Franco Paonessa open in the high slot and he hit the top corner with a laser beam that handcuffed Kings Keeper Leo Xu.

Period Two saw both sides playing tight and fighting for every inch of the floor. At 11:16 with the Kings David Donnelly back in front of the Bulldogs net he picked up a loose ball and popped it past Mohit Sharma for his 2nd goal of the game and the advantage for the Kings (2-1). The Kings’ lead held through to the end of the second frame.

Period Three was everything a Championship game should be. Some outstanding Goaltending from both Keepers and some terrific scoring chances from both offensive squads. With both sides pressing it was finally the Bulldogs that broke through when at 8:05 Franco Paonessa took another Jerry Mariano pass and fired another past the Kings Leo Xu for his 2nd of the game and everything was tied up at 2-2. With the minutes winding down and O.T. looming the Bulldogs Jerry Mariano took a costly “Interference” penalty at 12:47 and put the Kings on the Power Play. With just 14 seconds left in the Mariano penalty and 27 seconds left in regulation play (14:33) the Kings Mike Iacovone took an Isaac Vescio pass and launch a rocket top shelf beating Bulldogs Keeper Mohit Sharma and securing the Championship for the Mighty Monarchs. Final 3-2 Kings over Bulldogs. Kings are 2015-2016 M.D. Memorial Cup Champions.