Caledon up one going into Game 6
Wow! Wow! Wow! Stayner Siskins, the area’s local Juniour C hockey squad, is embroiled in an intriguing quarter-final series against the Caledon Golden Hawks.
As of Wednesday morning the series was tied at two games apiece, but by the time you read this, one of the two teams will be up by one game after playing Feb. 11 in Stayner. (Caledon scored in OT to take Game 5 by a score of 4-3).
The series thus far has been a homer affair with both clubs claiming victories on home ice before fans who have been mostly treated to entertaining hockey keeping them cheering or gripping the edge of their seats. The first two games versus the last two have been very different.
A week ago Thursday on Stayner ice, the Siskins scored an impressive 10-1 win with Lucas Jeffery and Ricky Darrell leading the charge. Jeffery had a six-point night on the basis of five assists and Darrell notched four goals and assisted on one. The team peppered 46 shots at a shell-shocked affiliate goalkeeper, Evan Barlow, who got the call for Caledon while allowing 33 their way. Spectators left the rink thinking, this series would be easily won by Stayner.
It is interesting how things can change so quickly. On Saturday night, down in Caledon, the Golden Hawks reversed the game’s play and the outcome. This time it was Caledon blasting 44 shots at Luke Aulthouse and starting goalkeeper Trevor Bloch, who only lasted 13 minutes, and stymied Stayner shooters to just 34 shots resulting in an 8-2 lopsided score.
Regarding the Siskins play, general manager Richard Gauthier deadpanned, “Our goaltenders were not very good and we thought that we would smoke them like the way we did the game before. We had big heads.”
The next night, back home in Stayner, the Siskins pressured the opposition through 60 minutes, firing 52 shots at netminder Sam Procopio.
To say he had horseshoes hanging from the net would be an understatement. His play was brilliant. At the Stayner crease, Aulthouse stopped 23 of 24 shots, allowing one on a first period power-play marker. The score ended 1-1 after 20 minutes because Siskins’ sniper Sean Healy also scored a goal with a man advantage.
Neither team scored in the second period but with only 36 seconds played in the third Darrell put the green and gold ahead for good. Jeffery secured the win with an empty netter late in the game.
So, what do you think happens in the next game, Tuesday night in Caledon? This time it’s by a 1-0 score with the shot count almost equal at 41-38 in favour of the Golden Hawks. Aulthouse and Procopio both had to come up big in what the Siskins general manager called a “boring game.”
Both teams came out flat. Part of the reason was from the late start of the game, 9:10 p.m. The only goal was scored by Caledon’s James Pitsadiotis with about two minutes remaining in the second.
As mentioned earlier, Game 5 was played last night in Stayner meaning Game 6 is slotted for tonight (Friday, Feb. 12) in Caledon beginning at 8:30 p.m.
If a Game 7 is necessary, be sure to take your sweetie on a dream Valentine’s date to the Stayner arena Sunday. The puck drops at 1:30 p.m.
In the other Georgian Mid Ontario Junior C Hockey League quarter-final series, Alliston made short work in their games against Schomberg, winning four straight, 5-2, 7-3, 7-4, 7-0; Penetang leads Midland 2-1 after losing the first game 3-2 the Kings posted 4-2 and 7-5 victories; and the seventh place Erin Shamrocks are on the verge of upsetting the second place Huntsville Otters. The Shamrocks lead 3-1 after scores of 6-4, 4-0, 1-2, and 4-1.
Finally, former Siskins coach Steve Walker has been home for a week’s holiday before going back to Germany where he works as an assistant coach for Adler Mannheim of the elite German Hockey League. His club is currently holding on to seventh place with 66 points in the 14-team league. The club just recently inked former NHL goalie Ray Emery to a contract. Remember him with Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers.
Alex Hargrave is a financial advisor, enjoys outdoor recreation and is an avid sports fan. He writes about local sports, primarily hockey and baseball.
