NEWS

The Trenton Golden Hawks celebrate a goal during their 7-4 win over the Toronto Jr. Canadiens at the Scotiabank Pond in Toronto Sunday. Trenton leads the best-of-seven series 3-0. Game 4 goes Tuesday in Trenton. (Ray MacAloney  / OJHL Images)

BY RON VALENTINE

The much anticipated second round of playoff games got underway this week in the Ontario Junior Hockey League with action on all eight fronts. 

HOT TEAMS 

The TRENTON GOLDEN HAWKS moved into a 3-0 lead over the OJHL’s top-ranked Toronto Junior Canadiens Sunday.

The WELLINGTON DUKES took a 2-0 lead in their series with the Haliburton County Huskies Saturday. 

The BURLINGTON COUGARS were the victors in their first two over the Georgetown Raiders.

The COLLINGWOOD BLUES went two up on the Milton Menace. 

Check out all the brackets, including the four series schedules here:

http://ojhl_site.wttstats.pointstreak.com/brackets.html?leagueid=231&seasonid=21100

HOT PLAYERS 

LUKE TCHOR led the Blues on Friday night with two goals in their 6-1 win over Milton. Luke had the game winner and the 'insurance marker'. He had 30 points in the 2019-20 campaign with the Oakville Blades. Before joining the Blues in early December this season, he had suited up for the CCHL's Brockville Braves. On Sunday, it was the turn of veteran blueliner ROBERT STRACHAN with the game's only powerplay goal in the second period of Collingwood’s 4-2 victory.

Four points, a goal and three assists, in game one against the Raiders for the Cougars' THOMAS LENART who followed that up with a goal on Saturday night where ZACH DIETZ posted a 26-save shutout, the first in round two. At the other end, MIKAEL KINGO saved 49 of 51 Cougars' shots. 

In game one on Friday in Burlington RYAN GAGNER's second of the game turned out to be the winner. Cougars' head coach Mark Jooris: "I feel Lenart and ERIC BERTELSEN (who had a goal against his old team in game one) have definitely elevated their games. We need secondary scoring to be successful. We all know the attention Jack (captain JACK RICHARD) receives when he is on the ice. We need to be committed on defence and there's not much more you can say about our goalie's performance!"

A five-point week for JACOB DEITZ. The Dukes' blueliner, brother of Cougar goalie Zach, had a 34-point regular campaign. Up front LUKE STRICKLAND had three goals in the two games. Dukes' head coach Derek Smith Is happy, so far: "Both games have come down to the wire as we expected. Obviously we are in a good spot but there is still a lot of hockey left against a very good team."

Blueliner NOLAN MOZER (on Friday) and forward EDWARD MOSKOWITZ (on Saturday) had the game winners for the Dukes. Edward on his decider: "It was an exciting weekend for us with tough battles in both games. On my game winner JAXON BOYER had a great point shot that I was lucky enough a piece of before it went into the net. My aim was to get a good screen on the goalie to make sure he had some difficulty seeing the puck."

Three goals in two second round games for Huskies' captain CHRISTIAN STEVENS. Six in total in seven postseason contests. Christian comments on the series: "We are confident in our game right now. We have had the day to watch a lot of film and prepare for Game 3 on Monday night in Wellington."

The Golden Hawks' game winning goals against the J.C.s were scored by Utopia's JORDAN FULLER in Game 1, by captain MITCH LAFAY in Game 2 and MATTHEW CATO on Sunday evening. Jordan was drafted in 2020 by the OHL's Barrie Colts, 29th overall. MItch will be attending the University of Alaska-Anchorage this coming Fall and Matthew, who leads all post- season scorers with 10 goals and 15 points, has a scholarship to NCAA Division 1 Vermont for next season.  

Cato leads all goal scorers (10) and pointgetters (15) in the playoffs. Haliburton County's Isaac Sooklal leads in assists with 11.

RANDOM JOTTINGS

Friday night was a good one for the home teams, all were winners in front of a total of 3,367 fans. On Saturday both road teams were the victors, the game in Minden was sold out well in advance and a near-capacity crowd were at the Alcott arena in Georgetown. Sunday night, with two more teams as road winners, saw a bumper gathering of 1,011  fans on Thompson Road in Milton and 555 at the ScotiaBank Pond.  

Junior Canadiens' blueliner HAYDEN HEINRICH announced this week that he will play for the NCAA Division 3's Norwich University Cadets, in Vermont, next season was not nonplussed by his club's setbacks in their first two against Trenton. His team did not lose back-to-back games in the regular season. Hayden before Game 3: 'It's been all about keeping a positive mindset and staying on an even keel throughout the playoffs. We feel we can push through this adversity". Following their Sunday loss they have a tough road to the next round.

WHAT UP THIS WEEK?

The second round playoff series continues.

Tonight, Milton visits Collingwood and Wellington is home to Haliburton County.

On Tuesday, Trenton hosts the Jr. Canadiens and Georgetown travels to Burlington.

There are three games scheduled for April 3 and 4, if necessary. The third round is set to start on April 5 and it has to be completed by the 18.

Follow Ron Valentine on Twitter @ronandlynda