Brooklin 0
Six Nations 3
After cruising through the regular season, the Brooklin Redmen suddenly find themselves in the unenviable position of being down 3-0 in their semi-final series against the Six Nations Chiefs. Even in front of a home crowd bolstered by OLA Festival patrons, the Redmen have been unable to muster any fight, losing games one (9-8) and three (10-6) at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre. Game two, in Six Nations, was won by the Chiefs 9-4.
They can finish off their series in game four at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena on Saturday. Perhaps the Redmen have been haunted in this series by the 2013 playoffs, in which they fought hard to take out the Lakers in the first round, but then had their Cinderella run ended by the Chiefs in four straight. The Chiefs just seem to have their number.
The Chiefs had trouble during the season putting together a stable lineup, but their stars are out in force for these playoffs. Jeff Shattler, Cody Jamieson, Kasey Biernes, and Colin Doyle are all in the top 10 of playoff scoring, while Brooklin has three scorers sitting in the 19th and 20th positions.
Peterborough 2
Kitchener-Waterloo 1
Both Peterborough and KW have suffered disastrous losses so far in their series. Peterborough won game one 14-4, while KW took game two 13-7; both games in Peterborough. Game three switched back to the Waterloo Rec Complex, which the Lakers took 10-6. While some media outlets had the Lakers taking the series in four or five games, the players themselves on both teams never expected an easy series.
KW has played Peterborough tough in the past two seasons and has found ways to win. Dillon Ward was spectacular in game two for KW and is capable of stealing more games.
Whichever team has the steadier goaltender in the next games will win. Ward is a young player who just won his first gold medal on the world stage, while Matt Vinc is a big game player, winner of three Champions Cups. The series really could go either way. Game four is Friday in Waterloo.
