ELMIRA SUGAR KINGS ARE 2017 SUTHERLAND CUP CHAMPIONS
By: Chris McLachlin, OHA Media
Photo: OHA Media
The Elmira Sugar Kings are the 2017 OHA Sutherland Cup Champions after a 4-1 win in Game 5 over the London Nationals tonight in London at the Western Fair Sports Centre. The Sugar Kings won the first 3 games of the series, but the Nationals scored a 4-1 victory in Game 4 in Elmira on Wednesday to force tonight’s Game 5. This was the Sugar Kings’ first Sutherland Cup since 2011 and 4th overall, also winning in 1997 and 2001.
The Sugar Kings jumped out to an early first period lead when Jacob Black scored from Zack Cameron and Tyler McBay 3 minutes into the game. The Nationals found their game and carried the play for a large stretch in the first before Elmira’s Klayton Hoelscher cruised through the slot and found the back of the net behind London’s Cameron Zanussi on the power play with less than 2 minutes to play in the first period. London outshot Elmira 14-11 but the Sugar Kings held the first period lead 2-0.
The teams skated through a scoreless second period, and although the Nationals had extended pressure in the Elmira end during two late power plays, they were unable to put a puck behind Jonathan Reinhart, who showed why he was named the OHA Jr. B Player of the Year on numerous occasions. Once again London had more shots, outshooting the visitors 10-8 but the score remained 2-0 for Elmira after forty minutes of play.
London got off to a quick start in the third as a Quinn Lenihan shot from the point was deflected and found the back of the net behind Reinhart just 42 seconds in to bring the Nationals to within 1. Following the goal, London had a number of quality scoring chances but Reinhart and the Elmira defence held strong to keep the Nationals from tying the game. With just under 8 minutes left in the third, Elmira’s Mitch Hoelscher tipped in a shot from the point to restore the Sugar Kings’ 2 goal lead.
The Nationals pressed in the final minutes to close the gap, but with 2:43 left in the third period Elmira’s Jake Brown broke past the London defence and went backhand top shelf on Zanussi to put the Sugar Kings up 4-1 to seal the deal.
For the London Nationals, it was another disappointing end to an otherwise great season as they are Sutherland Cup Finalists for the second year in a row, after winning back to back GOJHL Western Conference Championships. Last year they lost in 4 games to the Caledonia Corvairs who claimed their third straight Sutherland Cup.
Elmira’s 2017 OHA Sutherland Cup Championship made history as they became the first Wild Card team to win the Sutherland Cup.
Click here to view the GOJHL Playoffs Brackets
2017 OHA SUTHERLAND CUP FINALS:
Game 1: Wed. Apr. 26 – Elmira 3 at London 2
Game 2: Sat. Apr. 29 – Elmira 2 at London 0
Game 3: Sun. Apr. 30 – London 1 at Elmira 4
Game 4: Wed. May 3 – London 6 at Elmira 4
Game 5: Fri. May 5 – Elmira 4 at London 1
