Lakefield Chiefs pull off hard-fought series win over Port Hope in east final
LAKEFIELD – The fourth time proved to be the charm.
The Lakefield Chiefs finally finished off the Port Hope Panthers, but it took everything they had.
After building a 3-0 lead in the PJHL East Division final, it took a 3-2 Game 7 win to end Port Hope’s three-year grip on the division title.
The Chiefs built a 3-0 lead in the game and held off a Panthers push that included a big save by goalie Michael Christie in the final minute.
The Chiefs advance to the OHA Schmalz Cup semifinals against the Stayner Siskins. Details are to be announced on Monday.
Port Hope roared back from a 3-0 series deficit, forcing Game 7 by edging Lakefield 3-2 Saturday night at the Jack Burger Sports Complex. In the 2015 Schmalz Cup final, the Panthers fought back from a 3-0 series deficit against Essex only to lose Game 7 at home.
“Man, oh, man, that Port Hope team gave us everything we could handle,” said Chiefs coach Jamie Arcand.
“There was no panic in our players, our coaches. We kept saying if we stick to the way we’ve been playing all season good things will happen for us. Today it did.”
Peterborough native Cam McGill, in his final year of junior and fourth with Port Hope, came close to tying it in the final minute. He split the Chiefs’ defence but Christie turned him aside.
“He saved our game right there,” Arcand said. “I have so much respect for Cam McGill. I coached him when he was little and he did everything he could to turn that game around. Luckily, our guys had that little bit of fight left in them.”
“This means a heck of a lot,” Christie said. “We played Port Hope last year and lost in six. To come through and fight back in seven games feels so good. I wouldn’t rather do it with any other team.”
An emotional McGill declined an interview request. Another Peterborough minor hockey grad with Port Hope, Cameron Harris, said it was a tough way to lose.
“It’s tough especially for the older guys who are graduating,” Harris said. “It was a tight team, a family.
“We battled hard and everyone came together. It does make it hurt that much more that we came back from 3-0 and ended up losing.”
The Chiefs got on the board quickly with Max Moloney stepping out from behind the Panthers' net to put Karn Dart’s rebound past Sheldon Calbury 1:41 into the game.
A Jeff Hawthorne stretch pass sprung Matt McIntyre on a breakaway 9:28 into the second and he made no mistake. Cole Robbins made it 3-0 overpowered Calbury with a blast on a power play with 6:47 left in the second.
Port Hope got a ray of hope with 8:38 left when Greg Powles hammered a point shot, off a faceoff won by Kallen McFarland. That ray got brighter 1:36 later when Andrew Gurr fired a shot top shelf. The Chiefs had to kill a penalty in the final 3:09 to pull it out.
On Saturday, the Chiefs outshot Port Hope 47-32 and fell a goal short. Port Hope built a 3-0 lead and then held off a late Chiefs’ push.
Harris and Kevin Lemaitre scored 3:08 apart midway through the second period to give Port Hope a 2-0 lead. Evan Foley scored a short-handed marker set up by Harris 3:47 into the third.
Lakefield, sponsored by Hendren Funeral Homes, scored two goals 50 seconds apart to make it a one-goal game with 4:29 left. Carson Hartwick tallied at 14:41 from Robbins and Ethan McDougall.
McIntyre followed at 15:31 assisted by Jordan MacLean and Braeden Kublick. Calbury made 45 saves and Christie 29.