Cats, Caribous will square off for CWSHL title
Clarenville advances to final after downing dogged Flyers
Following an unplanned four-week stoppage of play, the Central West Senior Hockey League resumed over the weekend, and it was the Clarenville Caribous emerging from the semifinals to earn a berth in the league final.
The Caribous swept the Gander Flyers 2-0 in a best-of-three series, advancing to the league final against the three-time defending league and Herder Memorial Trophy champions Grand Falls-windsor Cataracts.
Prior to the weekend, the last league game was Jan. 29. Three days later, the CWSHL announced the cancellation of the remainder of the regular season — there were six games remaining — because of financial difficulties the Flyers had been experiencing.
Last-place Gander was to have taken part in all six games, but the league decided that while the Flyers would continue as part of the league, their financial inability to play remaining those regular-season games would result in forgoing the final three weeks of the regular season and Gander forfeiting those half dozen contests.
The decision was made in conjunction with Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador and all three of the league’s teams.
Saturday night in Gander, before a crowd of over 1,000 at the Steele Community Centre, Stuart Macrae scored twice, including one into an empty net, as the Caribous beat their hosts 8-5. Ryan Desrosiers also potted a pair for Clarenville, with Kenny Mahoney, Rodney Mahoney, Chad Earle and Keith Delaney each scoring once. Ryan Watson had two for Gander. Brandon Hynes, Jordan Escott and Tyler Carroll scored one apiece.
Gander led that one 3-0 after the first period. The game was tied 5-5 after 40 minutes.
Friday night at the Eastlink Events Centre in Clarenville, the Caribous ruined Hynes’s four-goal, one-assist night with a 6-5 win. Desrosiers had three in that game, with Earle, Parker Deighan and Kevin Reid also scoring. Escott had the other Gamder goal.
The best-of-seven final opens next weekend at Joe Byrne Memorial Stadium in Grand Fallswindsor, with Game 1 slated for 7:30 Saturday night and Game 2 going 1:30 p.m. Sunday.