The 2013 Ontario Lacrosse Association Junior A playoffs are officially under way, with each series one game deep. Each of the four respective match-ups will be in action Tuesday night.
No. 1 Six Nations vs. No. 8 Kitchener-Waterloo
The Braves pulled off an upset road win in the first game of the series, edging out the regular season champion Arrows 12-11 in double overtime. Leading the way for the Braves was Dhane Smith, who recently captured his second consecutive regular season scoring title with a 112 point campaign. Smith led all scorers with four goals and four assists for eight points. It was ultimately Drake, the younger of the Smith brothers, who netted the game winner in the second overtime period. Six Nations’ Johnny Powless, who finished closely behind Smith in the regular season scoring race with 104 points, finished with three goals and two assists for five points in the losing effort. Six Nations is currently without the services of sniper Randy Staats, who is currently nursing an injury and not expected to return to the lineup until the second round of playoffs. Kitchener-Waterloo will look to carry momentum onto home floor in game two.
No. 2 Whitby vs. No. 7 Barrie
Whitby cruised to a 10-3 victory in game one of the series. Ryan Keenan led the way for the Warriors with a five point performance, including a hat-trick in the first period. Warriors’ regular season leading scorer Reilly O’Connor was also impressive in the win with two goals and two assists for four points. Daniel Craig was involved in all of Barrie’s goals in the loss, finishing with two goals and one assist. Whitby and Barrie split their regular season series at one game a piece, with the home team emerging as the victor in each match-up. Barrie will look to keep this trend alive and even the series on home floor.
No. 3 Burlington vs. No. 6 Peterborough
The Chiefs and Lakers are set to do battle for the second time in as many nights on Tuesday after Burlington captured the first game of the series with a 15-13 overtime win. Danny Lomas put forth an outstanding seven goal performance for Burlington, finishing with nine points on the night. Joining Lomas in the Chiefs scoring parade was Jacob Ruest with one goal and five assists for six points. Burlington’s high scoring duo secured the overtime win for the Chiefs, with Lomas assisting Ruest on the eventual game winner before Ruest returned the favour assisting Lomas on an insurance goal. Despite the loss, four Peterborough players finished the game with multiple point performances. Leading the way for the Lakers with seven points on the night was Josh Currier (2g, 5a) and Turner Evans (1g, 6a). Other solid offensive performances from Peterborough included Dan Michel (5g, 1a) and Cam Milligan (1g, 4a). The Lakers will host the Chiefs at the Memorial Centre for game two.
No. 4 Brampton vs. No. 5 Orangeville
The defending Minto Cup champion Orangeville Northmen find themselves trailing in their series after the Excelsiors captured game one with a 16-9 win. Brampton’s Dan Keane (2g, 4a) and Jake Weidner (3g, 3a) each contributed six points in the victory, while Brandon Robinson (2g, 2a) and Matthew Bennett (1g, 3a) joined in on the offensive output with four points a piece. Orangeville’s Dallas Bridle led the way for the Northmen in a losing effort with four goals and one assist for five points. The Northmen have not dropped the opening game of a first round series in several years and will look to bounce back with a win on home floor in game two.
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