COUGARS UPSET REGULAR SEASON CHAMPS
The Cobourg Cougars went into Trenton last night and upset the OJHL regular season champion 6-4 in game one of their North-East Conference quarter-final match-up, while Kingston took an early 1-0 series lead in Wellington.
Kingston 2 vs. Wellington 1 - Kingston leads series 1-0
(pictured -Vees captain Michael Schug & Graham Yeo celebrate Schug's 2nd period game-winner - photo credit: Robert John Boucher/OJHL Images)
The Kingston Voyageurs drew first blood in the best of seven OJHL opening round playoff series with the Wellington Dukes with a 2-1 win on home ice. Captain Michael Schug slipped the winning goal home with a sharp shot deep in the corner of the rink that surprised Wellington goaltender Matt Larose and found its way to the back of the net for the eventual game winner. "Good things happen when you put the puck on the net, especially in the playoffs. I just wanted to get on the puck quick and hard and send it towards the net and try to create some sort of rebound, but luckily for us it went straight in," said Schug. The Vees broke open a scoreless tie in the second period when Junior Harris converted on a Vees power play. Rookie Francesco Vilardi fired a shot that Larose kicked out but Harris was right there to deposit the rebound for the games opening goal. Three minutes later, Schug scored his goal to open a 2-0 lead for the Vees. Prior to the opening goal by Harris, the game remained scoreless in large part to two fantastic defensive plays by Vees unheralded defenseman Josh Hicks. In the first period, Hicks broke up a 3 on 1 rush by the Dukes and in the second period he blocked a shot while covering up a wide open net, after Vees goaltender Charlie Finn was knocked down behind the net while attempting to play the puck. Abbot Girduckis cut the Vees lead in half and broke the shut-out attempt of Finn with a power play goal early in the 3rd period, but that was it as the Vees held on to take Game One in the series. Game Two goes Friday night in Wellington with Game Three back in Kingston on Sunday evening.
For a full game report, please CLICK HERE.
Cobourg 6 vs. Trenton 4 - Cobourg leads series 1-0
Game 1 of the best-of-seven series in the North East Conference Round 1 matchup, between #8 Cobourg and #1 Trenton, went to the visiting Cobourg Cougars. A trio of 1st period goals paced the Cougars to victory, who never trailed in the contest, at the Duncan McDonald Memorial Gardens on Thursday night. The Trenton Golden Hawks tried to dig themselves out of a three-goal hole, but the Cobourg Cougars held on for an exciting 6-4 road victory. Cobourg took an early 3-0 lead during the 1st period, which chased veteran netminder Victor Adamo after only 6 shots. The goals were scored by Taylor Gauld, Connor Hogg, and Dylan Goddard. After Goddard's power play goal at 9:16 of the 1st, the Golden Hawks turned to Cobourg's own Andrew Winsor for relief. The switch created a spark for Trenton, who closed the gap to 3-1 on a power play marker of their own by Josh Timpano, at 19:12 of the 1st. Trenton looked to gain momentum from the late 1st period goal heading into the 2nd. Trenton's power play was buzzing early in the 2nd, but as Theo Lewis stepped out of the penalty box he found a streaking Connor Armour who buried his breakaway opportunity, which restored the 3-goal Cobourg advantage. However, Trenton stormed back on goals from Sammy Banga at 8:19 into the second period, and Erlich Doerksen, a power play goal, at 14:56 to make the score 4-3 in favour of Cobourg. With the Golden Hawks momentum mounting late in the 2nd, solid play along the boards by Colbie Andrews freed the puck to Justin Danforth who made a nifty pass to Mark MacAulay, which found the back of the net and provided a much needed insurance goal heading into the 3rd. In the 3rd, Trenton came out pressing hard to get back within one of Cobourg. However, Nathan Perry held his ground and provided Cobourg with solid goaltending, as he's done all season for the Cougars. Cobourg capitalized on a power play at the 9:46 mark of the 3rd. Jake Emilio kept the puck in at the blueline, Justin Danforth picked up the loose puck curled and made a fake slapshot pass to Connor Armour who buried his shot passed Windsor. A Shawn Hulshof goal at 13:06 of the third period pulled Trenton to within two goals, but that's as close as they'd would get. Game two in the series goes tomorrow night at the Cobourg Community Centre with puck drop at 8:00pm.
For the full game report, please CLICK HERE.
Whitby 5 vs. Newmarket 1 - Whitby leads series 2-0
The Newmarket Hurricanes have fallen into a big hole in their OJHL North-East Conference Quarter Final series with the Whitby Fury. Whitby took a 5-1 decision in Game Two at the Twinney Complex Thursday night to take a 2-0 lead in this Best-of-Seven series. Newmarket is now in the position of having to win two games in Whitby to take the series. Newmarket started the game with some “vim and vigor” taking the lead at 3:24 when Ryan Johnson bulged the twine in the Whitby goal. It turned out to be the only goal Newmarket would get. Whitby tied the score via a power play marker at 8:16 and took the lead with the eventual game-winner at 17:32. A very energetic period by both sides saw the Canes with a 17-10 shot edge. Whitby took control of the contest with a pair of goals in the second period at 4:59 and 10:50. Newmarket produced little in the way of offence and were outshot by a 14-6 count. With a three-goal margin, the Fury reverted to the same defensive posture that they assumed in period three of Game One. Despite outshooting the Fury 11-7 in the third, it was Whitby who counted the only marker, an empty-net tally at 19:39. Shots overall were 34-31 for the Canes. Lucas Peressini replaced Matt Wintjes in the Newmarket net for Game Two as Wintjes was suffering from an undisclosed illness. He made 26 saves. Friday night is Game Three at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre. Game Four is back at the Twinney Complex on Sunday, March 3 at 2:30pm.
For the full game report, please CLICK HERE.
Lindsay 4 vs. Aurora 1 - Series tied 1-1
What a difference 48 hours can make. After being shutout in the opening game of the playoffs the Lindsay Muskies came back with a 4-1 victory Thursday night to even their series with Aurora at one game apiece. For the first time in ages the Muskies were able to ice a more complete lineup. Although Matt McCartney returned for game one, one more piece of the puzzle in the form of Jake Taylor was back in the lineup for this match. After not being able to get anything past Tiger's goaltender Kevin Entmaa on Tuesday night the Fish received just what the doctor ordered when Felix Chamberland scored at 2:07 from Vince Herlihey to take the lead and knock the goal scoring monkey off their backs. At 11:01 they lit the lamp again when William Pelletier made it 2-0 from Dean Klomp, and Dylan Fitze. That was the way the first period would end. At 10:21 of the second a huge goal was scored by William Sullivan to make it 3-0. The goal was a short handed effort, and was unassisted, but the Tigers did not roll over, and in fact less than one minute later at 11:07 Matt Andreacchi got Aurora on the board. That goal was assisted by Michael Keenan, and Daniel Lisi. They say a two goal lead is one of the toughest there is to play with so Muskies fans were on edge as the third period started, but at the 3:24 mark Jake Taylor restored the three goal lead and let everyone at the Lindsay Recreation Complex breathe a little easier. Tanner Davis made 31-saves in the Muskie net as the home side out shot the Tigers by a 45-32 count. There is no rest for the teams as they are right back at it Friday night in Aurora.
For a full game report, please CLICK HERE.
St. Michael's 5 vs. Toronto 2 - St. Michael's lead series 2-0
The St. Michaels Buzzers' Matt Galati had a big offensive game, scoring one goal and contributing two assists in his team's 5-2 win over the Toronto Junior Canadiens. Galati got on the board by slotting home a power play goal 2:55 into the third period to make the score 3-1 St. Michaels. St. Michaels earned a power play opportunity when Derek Perl was put in the box for roughing. Shane Conacher provided the assist. Galati dished an assist on Troy Josephs's goal that made the score 2-1 St. Michaels at 19:09 into the first period. He added another helper on Jordan Merante's goal that made the score 4-1 St. Michaels at 6:22 into the third period. The win gave the Buzzers a 2-0 lead in the best of seven series. St. Michaels' penalty kill excelled, as the Buzzers gave up one goal despite allowing six power plays. St. Michaels forced Toronto goalie Nathan Colitto to work between the pipes, taking 39 shots. The Buzzers was effective with a man advantage, and put in three goals while on the power play. Stephen Pietrobon also scored for St. Michaels. In addition, St. Michaels received assists from Michael Neville, Matt Buckles, and Cody Doiron, who contributed one a piece. The Junior Canadiens were helped by Michael Cuddemi, who grabbed one goal. Cuddemi scored 40 seconds into the first period to make the score 1-0 Toronto. Aaron Spivak assisted on the tally. Toronto also got a goal from Robert Cammalleri as well. Other players who recorded assists for Toronto were Daniel Lombardi and Connor Prudames, who each chipped in one. Adrian Ignagni made 23 saves for St. Michaels on 25 shots. Colitto rejected 34 shots on goal for Toronto. Game three in the series goes tonight at St. Michael's College School Arena with puck drop at 7:30pm.
For a full game report, please CLICK HERE.
