NEWS

(pictured - Netminder Evan Buitenhuis & Tyler Enns of the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots follow the puck on the stick of Aurora Tigers' captain Robert Angiolella during a 3-2 opening game victory in the 2014 OJHL Championship Series - photo credit: Shawn Muir/OJHL Images)

Game one of the 2014 OJHL Championship Series kicked-off on unfamiliar ground for both clubs, including the top-ranked Aurora Tigers, as they were forced out of their home rink - the Aurora Community Centre - and had to relocate to Canlan Ice Sports - York for the duration of the series.

With both teams feeling out the Olympic-sized rink, the series got off to a slow start, but did see the teams trade first period goals.  Just under five minutes into the contest, Nathan Feric potted his 10th of the post-season to give the Patriots an early 1-0 lead.  Dylan Sikura answered back just past the midway point of the period, firing a bullet from the top of the slot to even the score after one with Aurora outshooting the visitors 14-8.

Period two saw the clubs settle into the game with a scoreless, penalty-less frame that saw both netminders continue their stellar playoff performances.  The home side once again outshot the visitors 11-9.

It didn't take long for Toronto Lakeshore to regain the lead in the third as NHL Draft Prospect Michael Prapavessis fired home the first power play marker of the series with Aurora's Calvin Higley off for a head-check.  Starting the find their skating legs after more than a week layoff, the Patriots began to carry the play and just before the midway point of the final stanza, Doug Bonar gave the Pats a two-goal lead on a beautiful set-up from Feric and Prapavessis.  The Aurora Tigers cut the lead in half on a controversial call, as Buitenhuis, who had received warnings earlier in the game, took a delay of game penalty after knocking the net off the moorings.  The Tigers capitalized on the man advantage with power play specialist Eric Williams firing home a point shot with just under three minutes left in the game.  The Patriots stemmed the tide; however, and Higley took a hit-from-behind penalty on Prapavessis with just 26 seconds left in the contest to take game one in their first-ever Championship Series appearance.

Prapavessis was named the game's first star with a one goal, one assist effort, while Dylan Sikura and Eric Williams were stars two and three respectively for the Tigers.  Aurora outshot Toronto Lakeshore 34-28 with both Buitenhuis and Kevin Entmaa turning in excellent performances.

Game two in the 2014 OJHL Championship Series takes place on Sunday, April 13 with puck drop scheduled for 7:30pm at Westwood Arena.  Also taking place prior to game two is the 4th Annual OJHL Awards Ceremony in which each of the 2013-14 year-end OJHL Award winners are honoured in a special pre-game ceremony.