NEWS

CAMBRIDGE, ON – This evening marks the beginning of the final series in the 2015-16 Junior C hockey season.

The Empire B Junior C Hockey League champion Port Hope Panthers will host the Midwestern Junior C Hockey League champion Ayr Centennials.

The Panthers find themselves in familiar territory after last season saw the club drop a game seven decision to the Essex 73’s in a close 1-0 game.

This seasons Panthers won their league title by outscoring both the Gananoque Islanders and the Napanee Raiders 43-17 in their two series. Going undefeated heading into the Schmalz Cup Quarter Finals, the Panthers found themselves up against the Port Perry Mojacks from the Central Ontario Junior C League. It took just five games for the Panthers to defeat the Mojacks before heading into the semifinals against the always dangerous Georgian Bay Mid Ontario Junior C Hockey League champion Alliston Hornets. Outscoring the Hornets 24-17 in six games, the Panthers now find themselves back in the finals.

Leading the way in scoring for the team in the Schmalz Cup has been Panthers Assistant Captain Dalton Lawrence (11 goals, 12 assists), followed closely by team Captain Dan Lagrois (10 goals, 10 assists).

While the Panthers are no stranger to the Schmalz Cup Final, the Centennials find themselves competing for the coveted trophy for the first time since joining Junior C Hockey in 2012. The Cen’s have made a name for themselves by creating a winning environment, one that players and bench staff are quick to give positive recognition to.

The Centennials won the Midwestern Junior C League with a 12-2 record, outscoring the Burford Bulldogs 36-11 in round one, the Wellesley Applejacks 18-8 in round two and the New Hamburg Firebirds 17-12 in the league final. In the Schmalz Cup Quarter Finals the Centennials faced a veteran lineup in the Grimsby Peach Kings from the Niagara District Junior C League, but they were not intimidated and ended up outscoring Grimsby 16-8 in five games. The Semi Finals saw the team easily defeat last season’s Schmalz Cup champion Essex 73’s from the Great Lakes Junior C League in four games, outscoring the 73’s 18-10 in the process.

Riley Clipper (6 goals, 4 assists) holds the scoring lead for the club with three of his teammates sitting at nine points apiece.

With just hours before puck drop the OHA wishes both the Port hope Panthers and the Ayr Centennials good luck in their seven game series. Play hard, play safe and keep your stick on the ice!