GOJHL: WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
By: OHA Media
Photo: Shelly Quick, Leamington Flyers
WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
(3) London Nationals (36-13-1-0) vs (4) Leamington (27-16-1-6)
The London Nationals and Leamington Flyers will matchup in the GOJHL Western Conference Championship for the second year in a row. Last year the London Nationals won the series 4-2 to win the Western Conference Championship and advance to the OHA Sutherland Cup Semifinals. Game 1 of the 2017 GOJHL Western Conference Championship is set for Wednesday, March 29 at 7:30 PM in London at the Western Fair Sports Centre.
Both teams are coming off upset victories in the Semifinals as the #3 seed London Nationals took down the #2 Chatham Maroons in 5 games, while the #4 Leamington Flyers knocked off the top-seed LaSalle Vipers in 6 games.
This is the 5th straight year these teams have met in the Playoffs. London won 4-1 in the Conference Semis in 2013, Leamington won 4-1 in the Conference Semis in 2014, Leamington won 4-2 in the Conference Semis in 2015, and London won 4-2 in the Conference Finals in 2016.
Click here to view the full GOJHL Playoff Bracket
REGULAR SEASON – HEAD TO HEAD
London won the season series 6-0
09/22/16 London 5 at Leamington 3
10/19/16 Leamington 3 at London 4
11/17/16 London 8 at Leamington 2
12/14/16 Leamington 3 at London 6
01/12/17 London 6 at Leamington 3
02/08/17 Leamington 1 at London 3
Leading Scorers
London:
Max Vinogradov 9 PTS (4G, 5A), Michael Andlauer 9 PTS (4G, 5A)
Leamington:
Mitchell Crevatin 3 PTS (2G, 1A), Cale Phibbs 3 PTS (2G, 1A)
Goaltenders
London:
Cameron Zanussi (4GP, 4-0-0, 2.25 GAA, .921 SV%)
Leamington:
Connor Meyerink (5GP, 0-5-0, 5.13 GAA, .848 SV%)
Noah Hedrick (2GP, 0-1-0, 4.81 GAA, .849 SV%)
Special Teams
PP%: London (34.5%), Leamington (25.0%)
PK%: London (75.0%), Leamington (65.5%)
Click here to download the complete head to head comparison (PDF)
HOW THEY GOT HERE:
Quarterfinals:
London: beat St. Marys in 5 games
Leamington: beat Sarnia in 6 games
Semifinals:
London: beat Chatham in 5 games
Leamington: beat LaSalle in 6 games
PLAYOFFS SCORING LEADERS:
London:
1. Ethan Nother 20 PTS (8G, 12A)
2. Max Vinogradov 18 PTS (7G, 11A)
3. Austin Kemp 16 PTS (8G, 8A)
Leamington:
1. Blake Bain 14 PTS (6G, 8A)
2. Scott Florence 14 PTS (3G, 11A)
3. Jaydon Fetter 14 PTS (2G, 12A)
PLAYOFFS GOALIE STATS:
London:
Cameron Zanussi (10 GP, 8-2, 3.10 GAA, .904 SV%)
Leamington:
Connor Meyerink (7GP, 5-2, 1.99 GAA, .949 SV%)
Noah Hedrick (5GP, 3-2, 2.59 GAA, .921 SV%)
PLAYOFFS SPECIAL TEAMS:
PP%: London (32.3%), Leamington (21.3%)
PK%: London (81.5%), Leamington (84.2%)
Click here to view London’s Playoff stats
Click here to view Leamington’s Playoff stats
SERIES SCHEDULE:
Game 1: Wed. Mar. 29 at 7:30 PM – Leamington at London
Game 2: Thu. Mar. 30 at 7:10 PM – London at Leamington
Game 3: Sat. Apr. 1 at 7:30 PM – Leamington at London
Game 4: Sun. Apr. 2 at 7:10 PM – London at Leamington
*Game 5: Wed. Apr. 5 at 7:30 PM – Leamington at London
*Game 6: Thu. Apr. 6 at 7:10 PM – London at Leamington
*Game 7: Sat. Apr. 8 at 7:30 PM – Leamington at London
(*if necessary)
For more information and to follow all of the GOJHL Conference Championship games, visit: www.gojhl.ca.
