Three Playoff Series Sweeps In Two Nights
Three of the OJLL’s first round playoff series ended in sweeps in under 30 hours between Sunday and Monday. The Burlington blaze won 14-9 over the St Catharines Athletics to win their series in three games, the Mimico Mountaineers won at home 11-5 sweeping away the defending Minto Cup Champions Whitby Warriors, and on Monday night the Orangeville Northmen kept their perfect season alive (now 23-0) with a 16-5 win over the Six Nations Arrows, also sweeping their series.
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In Burlington on Sunday night, the Blaze’s transition unit helped them to a 6-1 first period lead the A’s could never recover from. Burlington’s Braedon Saris (3 goals, 3 assists) and Alex Marinier (3 goals) both finished with hat tricks. Zach Thompson finished with six points (2 goals, 4 assists). Keaton Zavitz (3 goals) and Noah Snyder (3 goals, 1 assist) scored hat tricks for St Catharines. The 14-9 win was Burlington’s seventh straight at home.
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Down the road in Mimico, the Mountaineers scored four power play goals in the second period off five straight Whitby minor penalties. Mimico had goals from just five players including Justin Lee (3 goals, 4 assists), Lucas Dudemaine (2 goals, 4 assists) and CJ Kirst (2 goals, 1 assist). Regular season points champion Finn Thomson finished with five points (1 goal, 4 assists). Nate Whittom stopped 51 of 56 shots for the 11-5 win.
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The hard-fought series that was Orangeville vs. Six Nations continued to be just that on Monday. The teams combined for five major penalties throughout the game and 48 minutes of penalties in the middle period. Joey Spallina led all runners with six points (5 goals, 1 assist). Aiden Long was ejected for fighting in the second period, but still managed four goals. Kaleb Benedict (5 assists) and Koleton Marquis (2 goals, 3 assists) used five points each to move into first and second in OJLL playoff points with 20 and 19 respectively. Six Nations’ Ethan Robertson stopped 52 of 68 shots. It’s the fifth time this season he’s taken a loss while making 50 or more saves.
Orangeville’s 18-5 win moves their perfect record to 23-0.
