T’Hawks, Spartans lose playoff openers

Higher seeds lived up to their billing when the Niagara Thunderhawks and St. Catharines Spartans opened the junior B lacrosse playoffs on the road Friday night.

Seventh-seeded Niagara dropped a 15-7 decision to the No. 2 seed Elora Mohawks, while St. Catharines lost 10-2 to the Six Nations Rebels in a best-of-series between the first and eighth seeds in the Western Ontario division.

Zach Luis, with four goals; Aidan Buis, Nathan Maloney and Chris Weier scored for Thunderhawks, who were outshot 55-43.

Niagara finished the game twofor-three on the power play; Elora, four-for-nine.

Alex Gaston and one-time Welland Generals forward Sam LeClair found the back of the net for the Spartans in their Game 1 loss to the South West Division regular-season champions.

Six Nations outshot St. Catharines 49-33 and went two-forseven on the power play. The Spartans scored two goals in four opportunities with a man advantage.

Niagara and St. Catharines were both home Sunday hosting Game 2 of their respective series. Results weren’t immediately available at press time.

Six Nations went 2-0-1 versus the division rival Spartans in league play, while the Thunderhawks lost their only game to Elora interconference action this season.

Niagara, 10-10 in league play, and St. Catharines, 7-12-1, are both back in the playoffs after missing post-season play last year.