Caledonia opens semifinal at home with victory over Canucks

The Caledonia Corvairs jumped out to a three-goal lead Wednesday night and never looked back the rest of the way in the opening game of their Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League semifinal against the Niagara Falls Canucks.

Owen Lane, with two, Jamey Lauzon and Jesse Barwell netted goals for the fourth-time defending Golden Horseshoe Conference champions in a 4-1 victory over visiting Niagara Falls.

Hayden Broomhead replied with two power-play goals for the Canucks, who were outshot 37-23 in Game 1 in the best-of-seven, second-round playoff series.

Niagara Falls went 2-for-9 on the power play; Caledonia, 0for-4.

The top-seeded Corvairs and the No. 5 seed Canucks both came into the game hoping to remain undefeated in post-season play.

Caledonia swept the eighthseeded Fort Erie Meteors, while Niagara Falls needed only four games to send the No. 5 seed Thorold Blackhawks to the sidelines in the opening round of the junior B playoffs.

With the victory in Game 1, the Corvairs continued their seasonlong dominance of the Canucks. Caledonia went 6-0 in head-tohead play during the regular season winning the season series 12 points to one and outscoring Niagara Falls 32-10.

Game 2 in the series is 7 p.m. Friday at Gale Centre in Niagara Falls with the third game in Caledonia for a 7:30 p.m. faceoff Saturday.

The Corvairs are seeking their fourth Sutherland Cup provincial junior B championship in five years.

The Canucks are hoping to win their third cup and first since 1999.

The Canucks’ last Golden Horseshoe championship was 2011 when the they went on to lose to the Elmira Sugar Kings in the Sutherland Cup final.