NEWS

(pictured - Newmarket Hurricanes celebrate a victory in Lindsay during the North-East Conference Semi-Final - photo credit: Catherine Reid/OJHL Images)
Calvin Higley scored the hat trick to lead the Newmarket Hurricanes into the OJHL North-East Conference Final as they defeated the Lindsay Muskies 6-3 in Lindsay Tuesday night. The Canes swept the Muskies in four straight games, making it eight playoff wins in a row. This marks the first time since 2010, (when the Hurricanes won the CCHL title before losing in six games to Oakville in the OHA Buckland Cup Final) and only second time since the turn of the century that the Canes have made it to the third round of the playoffs.

The two clubs stuck to hockey tonight, and what entertaining hockey it was, as indicated by only two minor penalties apiece. The Muskies had the better of the play in the first period, especially in the final ten minutes. They scored the period’s only goal on a defensive giveaway as Matt McCartney buried his second of the post-season. Despite Lindsay being the better team over twenty minutes, the Canes had the shot edge 11-10, as once again their shot blocking expertise came to the fore.

Kyler Nixon evened the score at 7:28 of the second as his long range pass from inside the Newmarket blueline hit Higley in full stride at the Muskie blueline with the Canes sniper making no mistake. Higley scored again at 15:22 to give the Canes the lead when his blast from the blueline went up and over Lindsay netminder Tanner Davis, just making it in over the goal line.

However, it only took Lindsay 27 seconds to re-tie the contest, as Corey Jackson knotted the game at two. The Canes were not done though, Thomas Beretta giving the visitors a 3-2 lead heading into the intermission when he scored at 17:46. Shots in the second were 16-11 for Newmarket.

Daniel Leavens put the Canes up 4-2 at 3:17 of the third, but the Muskies wouldn’t quit. They reduced the lead to a single marker as William Pelletier scored on a breakway at 8:15. Their momentum was short-lived as Higley completed the “trick” when he scored on another breakway at 9:17.

The Muskies continued to press to close the gap, but Newmarket tightened up the defence. The clincher came when Chris Chiste hit the Muskie cage on an empty-netter at 18:44. Shots in the third were 13-11 Newmarket and 40-32 overall for the visitors.

Matt Wintjes again was stout in the Newmarket goal, making 29 saves, while Davis was again stellar between the pipes for the Muskies, stopping 32 shots.

Newmarket now gets some well-deserved rest as they await the winner of the Kingston Voyageurs-Cobourg Cougars semi-final series. The Vees are up 3-1 with game five going Thursday night in Kingston.

For a full game summary, please CLICK HERE.

NE Conference Semi-Final:
Game 1                                Lindsay 2 @ Newmarket 5 (NEW leads series 1-0)
Game 2                                Newmarket 4 @ Lindsay 1 (NEW leads series 2-0)
Game 3                                Lindsay 4 @ Newmarket 5 (OT) (NEW leads series 3-0)
Game 4                                Newmarket 6 @ Lindsay 3 (NEW wins series 4-0)