To say the Clarington Green Gaels have had an easy time of their Junior B playoff run so far, would be an understatement. They eliminated the Mimico Mountaineers in three straight games outscoring the boys in blue 49-19. The Gaels drew Halton Hills in round two, which was supposed to be a more evenly matched playoff round. The Bulldogs sent Kahnawake home in three straight as well, although the scores were closer, including a second game which ended in overtime.
With game three of their second round series going on Tuesday night, the Bulldogs found themselves fighting off elimination. No truer has that cliché been than Tuesday night. The Gaels jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, and stretched it to 5-1 before the halfway mark of the first. They would score four unanswered in the second period to lead 10-3 after two. The teams traded goals to open the third before Halton Hills scored a single marker. The Green Gaels would answer seven seconds later to start a run of four goals in three minutes.
With a 16-6 score on the board, the game, and series, was all but decided. That’s when a check from behind by Brendan Hesson of Clarington broke everything loose. Justin Reid took exception and threw a kick at Hesson. The play saw a minor melee ensue, including two fights. As the dust began to settle, Reid was also assessed a penalty for physically abusing an official. In all Justin Reid picked up a major and a match for kicking a player, five minutes for fighting and a game misconduct, plus a gross misconduct for abusing an official and a second game misconduct – fifty penalty minutes on one play. In all, eighty-seven penalty minutes were handed out in the skirmish, most likely resulting in a few players missing future games.
It won’t matter for Halton Hills this season as their season is over. But it will be interesting to see if Brandon Hesson or Jordan Saunderson will draw additional discipline for their roles.
In other Jr B news, Ahkwasasne and Oakville are tied a game a piece with game three going Saturday, Six Nations leads Orangeville 2-0 and can end it Thursday, and Wallaceburg can upset London on Friday as they lead 2-0.
The Junior A semi-final rounds will not commence until later this month.
