Round two in the NOJHL
Preliminary round over, it’s on to the divisional semi-finals with eight teams in the quest for Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League glory.
Following is a preview (of sorts) of the four best-of-seven, semi-final series. Who will emerge victorious and head to the final four? Your guess is as good as mine.
SOO THUNDERBIRDS V. SOO EAGLES
The West Division champion Thunderbirds and fourth-seeded Eagles faced off 10 times during the regular season with the T-Birds holding a 6-4 edge.
The two-time reigning champion T-Birds ended the regular season with 12 straight victories.
But the Eagles also enter the Border Battle series on a high note after having eliminated the Elliot Lake Wildcats two games to one in the prelim round. The series win for the Eagles was extra special given that they lost to the Wildcats six times during the regular season.
Games between the Twin Soo rivals are generally met with much anticipation and this series figures to be no exception with border bragging rights again at stake.
MY GUESS: T-Birds in six. But the Eagles sell more beer and burgers.
BLIND RIVER V. RAYSIDE-BALFOUR
This one could — and should — be another howitzer, with the second-seeded Beavers holding home-ice advantage over the third-seeded Canadians.
A sidebar to this West Division series sits with the coaching match-up of Beavers rookie bench boss Kyle Brick and wily veteran Dave Clancy of the Canadians.
Both teams have players who can light the lamp and repeat the process.
Blind River does have an advantage of more experience between the pipes. And the fans at Blind River Memorial Community Centre figure to be loud and loving it in support of their Beavers.
MY GUESS: Blind River in six. And Beavers fans paint the town red.
POWASSAN V. KIRKLAND LAKE
A third-year NOJHL franchise, the Voodoos have been a nice success story in their young history and are fresh from finishing atop the East Division standings with the best record in the entire 12-team league.
But don’t count out the fourth-seeded Gold Miners, who were taken to the max by Iroquois Falls Eskis in the prelim round.
Methinks, though, that Powassan has too much for KL to counter over a seven-game series.
MY GUESS: Powassan in six. But not before KL coach Marc Lafleur empties the whine bottle.
COCHRANE V. TIMMINS
Second-place Crunch and third-place Rock in the other East semi is a showdown between two northeastern Ontario neighbours.
Not that the series should be all that neighbourly once Crunch boss Ryan Leonard and aging Rock star coach Paul Gagne get their vocal chords loosened.
MY GUESS: Cochrane in seven. And Coach Leonard is treated for a sore throat shortly after.
I really liked the Beavers when they came to town and Timmins, pretty deep and some real weapons. Beavers in 5
KL vs Pow will be interesting. Powassan cooled down after the big win streak, that said, they have all the tools to win it all. KL is no slouch either. Not quite as deep but guys like Amaya, Wegleitner are hard to contain. Carr Ansah on the back is end is as solid as they come. Goaltending has to go to Powassan and that might make the difference, Pow in 6, wouldn’t be surprised at all if it it’s less.
T-birds and Eagles both got smacked here in the Igloo by the Eskis in their only visits! I have to believe neither brought their “A” game so no prediction. I do like Caruso but the Eagles can skate.
Crunch vs Rock. Going to be a beauty of a series and it’s going to be painful for all involved. I expect a long chippy one with lots of hitting, bad blood on and off ice! The team with the players that want most and keep their heads on straight will it take in 6. Teams will split first 4 games, each winning one in the visiting rink.
IMO, it doesn’t matter which of the 4 teams comes out of the east, they will take the Copeland cup. I do believe the Voodoos offers the NOJHL the best chance to compete at the Dudley.
RR behave your self man ha ha Gold Miners will win it in 6 then you can come up this way and by a round ha ha.
Does anyone remember the Blind River Beavers sweeping the Soo Eagles 4-0 in in the first round 2009? They couldn’t handle the Soo Thunderbirds in the next round losing 4-0. That was the last time the Beavers won a playoff series.
I do. I was at the Game 4 clincher in Blind River.