Chiefs sweep Lumberjacks to move into semifinals
The Lakefield Battaglia Homes Chiefs completed a four-game sweep of their Provincial Junior Hockey League Orr Division quarterfinal with two weekend wins.
On Saturday night, the Chiefs defeated the Port Perry Lumberjacks, 4-1, at the Lakefield-Smith Community Centre. On Sunday afternoon in Port Perry, the Chiefs blanked the Lumberjacks, 4-0, to clinch the best-of-seven series four games to none.
The fourth-place Chiefs are likely to face the first-place Clarington Eagles in the semifinals. The Eagles lead the North Kawartha Knights, 3-0, in that series, having outscored them 24-1. The other semifinal would pit second-place Georgina Ice against the third-place Uxbridge Bruins. Georgina swept the Little Britain Merchants, 4-0, outscoring them 28-3. The Bruins had an opening-round bye after Clarington and Georgina declined the bye.
On Saturday, Gregory Sheedy opened the scoring 16:43 into the first period assisted by Brayden D’Innocenzo and Cody Beavis. The Chiefs added two second-period goals to go up 3-0. Andrew Calderwood scored unassisted and Alex Whitney tallied from Owen Thake and Clayton Shaughnessy.
Matt Campbell made it 4-0 in the third period.
Noland Goddard spoiled goalie Easton Rye’s shutout bid with 3:26 left to play. Rye made 22 saves as Lakefield outshot the Lumberjacks 24-23.
Rye got his shutout on Sunday by stopping 33 shots.
After a scoreless first period, the Chiefs scored 12:48 into the second as Whitney found the back of the net from Thake and Sheedy. They tallied again with 40 seconds left in the middle frame as Thake was set up by Shaughnessy.
Whitney added a second goal in the third period and Angus Leahy scored with 39 seconds left. Will Corcoran and D’Innocenzo added helpers.