HURRICANES FORCE GAME SEVEN

Press Release

With their playoff lives hanging in the balance, the Newmarket Hurricanes used a quick start to force game seven in the OJHL Championship Series on Sunday afternoon.

Taylor Chick and Chris Chiste scored back-to-back goals just 26 seconds apart early in the first period en route to a 3-2 victory over the St. Michael's Buzzers in game six of the best-of-seven series.

With the Frank L. Buckland Trophy (Buckland Cup) in the house, ready for presentation should the Buzzers clinch the series with a victory, the Hurricanes came out flying, showing the packed house of 1,587 spectators that they weren't done yet.  Returning to the Hurricanes line-up for the first time since game two of the Lindsay Muskies series (North-East Conference Semi-Final), Taylor Chick made an immediate impact, slamming home a rebound just 3:09 into the game for an early 1-0 lead.  Seconds later, with Newmarket continuing to forecheck and press the Buzzers defence, captain Chris Chiste drove the net and buried his ninth of the post-season. Following the early onslaught, St. Michael's started to find their groove and push back, spurred on by a return to the ice of the OJHL's Top Prospect Award winner, Matt Buckles, playing his first game since game for of the Conference Championship versus North York.  Tensions continued to rise in the series with hard-hitting and after-the-whistle scrums becoming more the norm as the period ended with Buzzers leading scorer Shane Conacher and OJHL Fan Favourite Travis Dermott locked in battle at centre ice, both receiving minor penalties.  Final shots in the first period were 12-10 in favour of the home side with netminder Matthew Wintjes continuing his stellar play between the pipes for Newmarket.

Period two saw the Buzzers turn up the offence, hitting two crossbars during the period, while outscoring the 'Canes 2-1.  Buzzers star rookie Jake Evans broke Wintjes shutout bid at the 7:42 mark with a beautiful individual effort tucking a backhand high over the netminder just under the crossbar, as he was falling to the ice, for his eighth of the post-season.  The two netminders continued to stand tall for much of the period, with the Buzzers outshooting Newmarket 13-11.  The Hurricanes restored their two goal lead at the 16:13 mark of the period as defenceman Austin Rigney notched his second of the playoffs with his point shot alluding Adrian Ignagni, after deflecting off Matt Galati who attempted to block the shot.  Forward Daniel Leavens picked up his second assist of the contest for his team leading 24th point of the club's playoff run.  Just 28 seconds after Rigney's tally, Stephen Pietrobon potted his sixth to make it 3-2 entering the second intermission.

The third period would see great saves at both ends of the ice as the Buzzers pushed hard to knot the game at three and send it to overtime.  The period would be riddled with scrums as 16 minutes in penalties were doled out by the officials, including five roughing minors.  A nervous apprehension could be felt throughout the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex with their club's season hanging in the balance.  With just 2:23 remaining to play, Mike Lansdowne would get called for holding, sending the Hurricanes to the power play for almost all of the remaining time to play.  Push as they might, including pulling Ignagni in the last minute of play, the Buzzers couldn't beat Wintjes as the final buzzer sounded.

Stars on the night included two assist performances from Leavens and Justin Maiolino for the Hurricanes and a one goal, one assist output from Evans.  Between the pipes, Ignagni stopped 30 of 33 shots he would face, while Wintjes turned aside 32 of 34.

The Hurricanes victory sets up a "winner take all" game seven with the Buckland Cup on the line at St. Michael's College School Arena in Toronto on Sunday, April 21 with puck drop at 4:00pm.  This marks the first Buckland Cup game seven since 1976-77 when the North York Rangers downed the Guelph Platers, and only the fourth since the trophy was first presented in 1971.  Other game sevens include the Chatham Maroons downing the Wexford Raiders in 1972-73 and the Raiders downing the Windsor Spitfires in 1973-74.

For those unable to make it to what will be a packed house at Bathurst and St. Clair, the game is available live on FASTHockey at www.ojhl.fasthockey.com.  The game will also be carried live by both Rogers TV York Region and Rogers TV Toronto, and is available to viewers throughout Ontario who are Rogers Digital Cable subscribers (replayed at 12am), free of charge, on channel 368 and 369 in high-definition.

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)