Beaver Sports
The Napanee Joyce’s Meats & Deli Atom BBs defeated Erin-Hillsburgh 6-2 to begin their provincial final series. Three minutes in, Ben Kerr scored his first of two, set up by Matthew Airhart and Liam Birney. Birney also scored a power-play marker from the point, with an assist to Airhart. Wyatt Whalen jammed home a loose puck from near the goal line. Airhart also scored a pair, each time firing high, one glove side and one blocker side. Malcolm McCaw and Kerr had assists on the latter goal. Jack Godfrey got the win in goal. The Stars outshot the visitors 28-14. In their race to the final, they hold a 10-0 playoff record. Erin-Hillsburgh returns Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
-The Napanee Exit Realty Acceleration Bantam BBs also punched their ticket to the finals with a 5-1 win in Gravenhurst over South Muskoka. Zac Slaven scored twice, as did Owen Gibson, who got the winner. Carter McKee rounded out the scoring while assists were earned by Tyler Brady (two), Jakob Dacosta (two), Ty Kemp, Gavin Brooks, Jacob Wood, Jack Osborne, Quinton Pierce and Ethan Martin. The Stars outshot their hosts 37-17 in Game 4, playing solid hockey throughout. Next up is Thorold, a centre near St. Catherines.
-L&A Mutual Insurance Atom AE Stars lost their bid to reach the finals, with a 7-0 loss to Collingwood in Game 4 of the semifinals. In a loosely officiated game, the team had trouble getting on track. Earlier, on Friday night, the Stars won in overtime 4-3. Cooper Seaton scored on a soft shot in the first minute, assisted by Cruz Maracle. Seaton got his second, as he picked up a loose puck when a penalty was about to be called. Maracle scored in the middle of the third period firing a high shot over the goalie’s shoulder, but Collingwood tied it up with 1:11 left in the third frame. In overtime, with 26 seconds left, Cal Moore scored the winner to force Game 4.