LAKEFIELD CHIEFS WIN 2018 OHA SCHMALZ CUP CHAMPIONSHIP
By: Chris McLachlin, OHA Media
Photo: OHA Media
The Lakefield Chiefs are the 2018 PJHL OHA Schmalz Cup Champions after beating the Glanbrook Rangers 4-0 in Game 5 to win the best of seven series 4 games to 1. The Championship is Lakefield’s fourth in the history of their organization following wins in 1987 against Norwich (six games), in 2000 in over Belle River (six games), and Essex (four games) in 2014. Lakefield is now 4-0 when reaching the Schmalz Cup Championship while the Glanbrook Rangers lost for the first time in the Championship and are now 3-1 all-time.
The Championship series started with a close low-scoring battle, won 2-1 in overtime by Lakefield on home ice. In Game 1 the teams played a scoreless first period and almost a full second period before Lakefield’s captain Aaron Vatcher scored shorthanded with just six seconds left. Glanbrook replied on the same powerplay early in the third as Dawson Shackelton scored 30 seconds into the third period. Matt Carroll scored at 17:01 of overtime to give the Chiefs the 2-1 win.
In Game 2 the Rangers had their chance to even the series on home ice and took advantage. Glanbrook scored two in the first and one early in the second to jump out to a 3-0 lead on goals from Connor Maitz (2) and Noah Matteson. The Chiefs pressed the rest of the way, managing to score twice as Vatcher and Jacob Bennett scored, but were unable to tie the game as Glanbrook evened the series at one game apiece.
Game 3 back in Lakefield was a back and forth affair as Glanbrook led 3-2 after two periods but Lakefield scored the only goal in the third and overtime was required for the second straight game in Lakefield. Matthew McIntyre scored 7:41 into the first overtime for Lakefield to win the game 4-3 and put the Chiefs up 2-1 in the series.
The home team won the first three games, but that trend ended in Game 4 as Lakefield exploded for a 4-goal second period en route to a 5-2 win as Vatcher led the way with a 3-point night to send the series back to Lakefield with the Chiefs leading the Rangers 3 games to 1.
In the series clincher back in Lakefield it was all Chiefs as a depleted Glanbrook squad simply could not match Lakefield in Game 5. Glanbrook was missing four regulars due to suspensions from Game 4, including starting goaltender Daniel Kocsis. Matt Carroll scored the lone goal in the first period putting the Chiefs ahead 1-0 and Jeff Hawthorne (powerplay) and Ethan McDougall (shorthanded) scored in the second for a commanding 3-0 lead on the way to a 4-0 win and winning the series 4 games to 1.
Click here for a list of past OHA Schmalz Cup Champions
Click here for 2018 PJHL Playoffs Brackets
2018 OHA SCHMALZ CUP CHAMPIONSHIP
Game 1: Sun, Apr. 22 - Glanbrook 1 at Lakefield 2 (OT)
Game 2: Wed, Apr. 25 - Lakefield 2 at Glanbrook 3
Game 3: Fri, Apr. 27 - Glanbrook 3 at Lakefield 4 (OT)
Game 4: Sun, Apr. 29 - Lakefield 5 at Glanbrook 2
Game 5: Tue, May 1 - Glanbrook 0 at Lakefield 4
(Lakefield wins the series 4-1)
