Chiefs win provincial Jr. C championship
Lakefield takes Schmalz Cup series 4-1 with 4-0 shutout win over Glanbrook Rangers at home before packed crowd
LAKEFIELD – The Lakefield Chiefs are once again the top Junior C hockey team in Ontario.
The Chiefs clinched the PJHL Schmalz Cup championship on home ice, with fans three-deep in standing room, with a 4-0 win over the Glanbrook Rangers on Tuesday night.
It’s the Chiefs’ fourth Ontario Hockey Association Junior C championship.
They last won in 2014 and previously in 2000 and 1987. The Chiefs are 4-0 when they’ve reached the Schmalz Cup final. Prior to joining the Junior C ranks, the Chiefs won back-toback OHA Junior D titles in 197778 and 1978-79.
Lakefield took control of a close game with two special teams goals in the second period to lead 3-0. Chiefs goalie Michael Christie, who earned all 20 playoff wins, made 26 saves for the shutout.
They won the best-of-seven series 4-1. It came after tough seven-game series against the Stayner Siskins and Port Hope Panthers, a six-game win in the PJHL Orr Division final against Port Perry and four-game sweep of the North Kawartha Knights.
“I’m on cloud nine right now,” said Chiefs head coach Jamie Arcand.
“Watching these guys hoist the Cup up over their heads is giving me chills. I know how much time and effort these guys put into this season and I know how much pain some of these guys are in. we’ve got separated shoulders and popped ribs and pulled hamstrings.
“None of those guys wanted to come out of the lineup. I have so much love and respect for these guys.
“We’ve never won this thing on home ice in the history of the Chiefs,” Arcand added.
“It’s always been on the road. This place has been packed every night of the playoffs so we wanted to do something special for them.”
It was a special moment for the captain Aaron Vatcher who grew up in Lakefield.
“This is indescribable,” Vatcher said. “It’s the best feeling in the world.”
He says five rounds of playoffs is a grind.
“It’s the toughest battle I have ever experienced and ever will experience,” Vatcher said.
“We have guys with two separated shoulders and broken feet and managed to come together as a team and battle through it.”
Mike Connelly’s last game of Junior C hockey is one he’ll never forget.
“You can’t put it into words,” Connelly said. “I love every guy on this team and to go out on top – there is no better feeling.”
Fans chanted “Christie, Christie” as the final seconds ticked down.
“This means the world,” Christie said. “To do it with this group of guys is awesome. I couldn’t ask for it to happen any other way. It was fun to do it in our home rink.”
After a tentative opening to the game Matt Carroll, back from a two-game suspension, made his impact felt.
Carroll banked the puck in off the back of goalie Mitchell Robinson from behind the Rangers net at 10:23. Carson Hartwick and Ethan McDougall assisted.
After killing a penalty to start the second period the Chiefs scored on a power play of their own.
Jeff Hawthorne tipped a low point shot by Cole Robbins past Robinson at 5:06 with Vatcher also assisting.
McDougall made it 3-0 with a short-handed breakaway goal at 9:21. Connelly dove to knock a loose puck out of the zone and McDougall roared down the ice to snap a shot top corner.
Evan Marlowe added to the lead in the third period assisted by Connelly and Hartwick.
NOTES: The Chiefs were without Zac Treen serving a onegame suspension and injured defenceman Jordan MacLean .... Glanbrook was missing firststring goalie Daniel Kocsis to suspension for an attempt to injure match penalty in Game 4.