WEEK IN REVIEW: UPSETS BREWING IN 1ST ROUND OF PLAYOFFS
BY RON VALENTINE
The Ontario Junior Hockey League playoffs got underway this week with eight series starting:
• In the North, the Pickering Panthers and the Collingwood Blues picked up 2-0 leads over the Georgetown Raiders and Stouffville Spirit respectively.
• In the East, the Trenton Golden Hawks and Wellington Dukes lead their series 2-0 over the Whitby Fury and the Cobourg Cougars.
• In the South, two upsets with both the North York Rangers and St. Michael's Buzzers taking commanding thee games to nothing advantages over the Division's top two regular season finishers the Toronto Junior Canadiens and Toronto Patriots.
• In the West, the Oakville Blades lead the Brantford 99ers 2-nil and the Buffalo Junior Sabres took a 2- lead over the Burlington Cougars.
MONDAY- The 'crossover' game between the host MARKHAM ROYALS and GEORGETOWN RAIDERS was to decide fourth seed in the North. The Raiders, led by two goals from rookie forward Nolan Dann, made it to the post-season with a 5-3 win. The Davis's, Tyler and Nick, got the Royals off to a 2-0 lead. Late in the second period Dann scored his first goal but just over two minutes later Zach Sirota found the net to send it tied 3-3 going into the final frame. Four minutes in Brendan Kennedy had the game winner with Dann putting the final goal into the empty Markham net. The Raiders' 'keeper Nathan Torchia 31 saves in the win, the same number as Aiden Hosein in the Markham net.
WEDNESDAY- The first round of the playoffs got underway on a snowy night.
The NORTH YORK RANGERS, fourth place finishers in the South' were in the frozen 'Pond' to take on the number one TORONTO JUNIOR CANADIENS and they would steal this one with an overtime goal from rookie Aydin Parekh. The Nobleton native scored just past the fifteen minute mark of the extra session. A powerplay goal in the first period by Cole O'Hara gave the visitors the lead and the J.C's tied it up with a powerplay goal of their own from Connor Lepage early in the third. Rookie goalkeeper James Gray made 45 saves and the J.C's Christian Mattiace stopped 38. Cole: "I think if there was any little bit of doubt heading into the first round it's completely gone now."
The BUFFALO JUNIOR SABRES stole game one at the Appleby arena against the BURLINGTON COUGARS by a 5-3 count. Colby Seitz led the way with a pair of goals for the winners, his second was the game winner. Matteo Costantini had a shorthanded goal that gave the visitors a 2-1 lead after forty minutes. Keanan Stewart scored twice for the Cougars. Sabres' captain Alec Cicero had the empty net goal. Cougars' captain Matt Hobbs tied the score at 3-3 in the third. When asked about the possibility of Nathan Berke, who had a 20-game pointscoring steak going when he was injured late in the regular season, returning for any games in the playffs captain Alec replied: "Unfortunately it's not looking like it, he has a lot of physical therapy ahead of him."
THURSDAY- At the Westwood arena the South's second place TORONTO PATRIOTS and third place St. MICHAEL'S BUZZERS faced off for the night's only contest and for the third straight game the away team came away victorious with a 4-3 win on a last minute goal from veteran forward James Gibbins. It was tied at 2-2 after two before Marcelo Pericao put the Patriots ahead before a powerplay goal near the midway mark from Kobe Desmond got the visitors on even terms setting up Gibbins' dramatic winning goal. Blueliner Ben Lawrick had two goals for the Buzzers and Brad Somers, just named 'Warrior' S/E Player of the Month for February, had an assist.
FRIDAY- The Burlington Cougars tied up their series against the Buffalo Junior Sabres with a 4-1 win at the Appleby arena. Derek McVey put the Cougars up 1-0 in the first and Harrison Cottam doubled their advantage early in the second with a powerplay goal before Tyler Kelly got one back for the Sabres. Two unanswered markers from Brendan Rylott and Jacob Kelly in the third sealed it for the Cougars. Max Wright saved 27 in the victory. McVey: "Everyone was working very hard in this one now we have to follow it up with a big effort Sunday."
Matt Dunsmoor had to make just 16 stops as his WELLINGTON DUKES won game one of their series against the COBOURG COUGARS 3-0. A late second period goal from James White got the Dukes on the scoresheet and they would add two more in the third from Jacob Breckles and Brodie McDougall. The Dukes fired 44 shots on Cougars' 'keeper Dershahn Stewart.
Despite having 77 shots on the WHITBY FURY net the TRENTON GOLDEN HAWKS were taken to overtime to record their 5-4 win in game one of the series. A busy game to put it mildly for Fury 'keeper Connor Mackenzie with 72 saves. After 10 minutes of additional play Andrew Suriyuth netted his second goal of the game. Dalton Bancroft and Adam Kim had a goal and two assists each for the Golden Hawks while for the Fury Patrick Saini did the same. Suriyuth: "All credit to the Fury goalie for keeping them in it, he made a lot of great saves."
A close one in game one of the series as the PICKERING PANTHERS edged the GEORGETOWN RAIDERS 2-1. A powerplay goal five minutes into the contest by Georgetown' s own Spencer Hazell put the visitors ahead then Rocco Andreacchi replied for the Panthers, also with the man advantage. Christos Rodis had the winner in the second period. Brendan Bonello stopped 34 Raiders' shots while Nathan Torchia saved 32 in a battle of two of the OJHL's top goalkeepers.
The Oakville Blades were leading 2-1 after 20 minutes against the Brantford 99ers at Sixteen Mile on goals by Harrison Israels and Luke Tchor following an opening marker form the 99ers' Nick McHugh. The game had to be rescheduled due to unsafe ice conditions following resurfacing of the ice. In its entirety will be replayed Saturday evening at eight.
The Collingwood/Stouffville matchup at the Eddie Bush arena was postponed to Saturday due to the weather.
SATURDAY- Three of the five games went into overtime.
Game two of the series and back at the Scotiabank Pond for the J.C's and the Rangers with the 'underdogs' taking a 2-0 lead with their 5-4 win on Tyler Flack's overtime marker while his club was shorthanded. Down 3-1 five minutes into the second period two goals from Myles Perry and one from Adam Panacci put the visitors ahead 4-3 after 40 minutes. A shorthanded goal from Matt DiCesare midway through the third frame sent the contest into extra time. Tyler on the dramatic winning goal: "I read the defenceman's pass and beat their other defence to the net. The boys are all buying in and we are rolling!" The JC's lost the services of captain Matthew O'Brien who was sent off five and a half minutes into the second period on a checking from behind call which carries an automatic game misconduct.
The Buzzers were looking for a 2-0 series lead at the Westwood and this game would also not be decided in regulation with powerplay goals by the Patriots' Peter Fleming and Dirk Stadig bookending markers from St. Mike's Nicholas Paolucci and Bryce Sutherland in the 2-2 tie after 60 minutes. After a scoreless first OT session Kobe Desmond was the hero of the second scoring just shy of the 2-minute mark to put the Buzzers ahead two games to nil. Sebastian Labora took the win in stopping 37 shots.
Getting their series off a day later than expected the COLLINGWOOD BLUES hosted the STOUFFVILLE SPIRIT to open up their North Division meetings and this game would also go into extra time. Rocco Testa-Basi put the home team in front just past the four minute mark of period two and five minutes later rookie Justin Biraben knotted the game for the Spirit. Neither team could find the net in the first overtime period and at the games' 90 and a half minute mark Patrick Brown notched the winner for the Blues. A 51-save performance from Andrew Rose for the win and in the loss Damon Beaver stopped 53. Rose was named 'Warrior' Goalie of the Month for February.
The Raiders were hoping to use home ice to their advantage but Patrick Demaio and the rest of the Panthers had other ideas as the veteran defenceman scored twice and Brendan Bonello kicked out 34 shots in their 3-0 victory giving them a 2-0 lead. Eli Pilosof had the other Pickering goal. The Panthers host the next game on Monday night. Panthers' captain Nathan Gooch: "The goalies on both teams have played really well so far. This was definitely a big win as we were able to steal one on the road."
The OAKVILLE BLADES and the BRANTFORD 99ers got things rolling a day late at Sixteen Mile and an empty-net goal by captain Jack Ricketts had their fans breathing a sigh of relief giving the team a 3-1 win. The first period featured three goals with Ryan O'Hara and Jacob King putting the Blades ahead with a Curtis Abbott goal getting the 99ers into it. Thirty saves for Will Barber while the 99ers Colton Incze faced 38 shots. Kyle Bollers, who was named 'Warrior' Player of the Month for the N/W Conference fro February had an assist.
SUNDAY- Tied 1-1, so it was already a pivotal game as the Junior Sabres were on home ice hosting the Cougars and this one would belong to the home side as they recorded the 8-2 victory in a physical battle. Five goals by the Sabres in the second period broke the game wide open. Colby Seitz with two goals and four points and Matteo Costantini with a goal and three assists had big games for the winners. Half of the games ten goals came on the powerplay. Same venue on Wednesday for game four.
The Iroquois arena was the setting for game two of the Fury/Golden Hawks series and the hockey man of the moment, David Ayres, dropped the puck. This one belonged to the 'Hawks who built up a 3-0 first period lead and went on to take it 4-1. Dalton Bancroft's goal four minutes in would be the game winner. Anand Oberoi saved 33 Fury shots. Tuesday night the series switches back to Trenton for game three with the 'Hawks ahead two games to none.
Game three and home ice for the Buzzers up 2-0 over the Patriots and they would prevail again on a goal in overtime by Ayrton Martino that gave them the 4-3 victory. James Gibbins had a shorthanded goal for the Buzzers. Cole Burtch scored the first two markers for the Patriots. St. Mike's blueliner Ben Lawrick scored a goal and added two assists. Both clubs scored one goal per period in the definition of an even contest. St. Michael's have a chance to Tuesday night at home to sweep the series. Martino on his winner: "Lawrick makes a great play on the blueline and pushes the puck up the boards and Ryan makes a great pass to chip it up to me coming off the bench and I was able to find a little hole against a really good goalie, now we focus on winning the fourth one which as we know is the hardest one to win." Ryan Alexander who assisted on Gibbins' 'shortie' and the winning goal: "I believe we are going to do something special in these playoffs."
Collingwood travelled to Stouffville for game two and got past the home side by a 5-1 count. Vladislav Dvurechenskii scored the game winner in the opening period and added another in the third. Affiliate Crossley Stewart got the Blues' going with his first OJHL goal.and Andrew Rose backstopped the team making 21 saves for the 2-0 series lead. Tuesday night it's back to the Eddie Bush arena for game three.
The upstart Rangers were at the venerable Carnegie arena and with a 4-2 win over the Junior Canadiens they took a three to nothing stranglehold on the series with Jonas Leas, Tyler Flack (shorthanded), Joseph Lionti with the game winner and an empty net marker from Daniel Petreccia accounting for their goals and Cole O'Hara assisted on three. Ryan Tverberg and C.J.Clarke found the net for the JC's. It's home ice again for North York on Wednesday night. A happy O'Hara: "I think we just went into the series embracing the underdog role. We knew all the pressure would be on them."
The Dukes edged the Cobourg Cougars 4-3 in extra time at the Lehigh arena with Jake Gagnon scoring the winning goal. The Dukes built up a 2-0 lead in period two following a scoreless first. T.J.Koufis gave the Cougars the lead in the third frame but Quinn Hanna's goal with five minutes left and, like Koufis's on the powerplay, made sure there would be overtime. The two teams get back at it in Cobourg Monday evening for the first of two games there.
The Wayne Gretzky arena in the telephone city of Brantford was the venue for a very physical game two of the Blades/99ers series. Will Barber was solid in the Oakville net making 31 saves and their offence was led by Harrison Israels' two goals and three points and Michael Tiveron's pair of goals. In the hard-hitting contest Liam Stevens gave the home fans some hope in the third period with the 99ers goal but callup Isaiah George's powerplay marker, his first in the League, with just under five minutes left made it a 5-1 final win for the Blades. Game three goes in Oakville Tuesday.
