Adam Prudhomme
Editor
NDSS’ Golden Hawks hockey program will have a chance to go for double KASSAA gold tomorrow afternoon.
Both the boys and girls teams punched their tickets to the finals with a win in the semifinals on Monday, both defeating Holy Cross to do so. The boys won 4-1 on home ice while the girls shutout the Crusaders 3-0 at Kingston’s Invista Centre.
In the boys game the Hawks came out flying in the first, building a 3-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.
Corbin Gibson, Ben Albright and Nolan Gunter each scored for the Hawks while Mason Barker, Gunter and Spencer Cranley all picked up assists.
Gibson opened the scoring with a nifty wrap around goal, Albright bested the Crusader keeper high on the glove side and Cranley scored on a break away to give NDSS a seemingly comfortable lead early.
The third goal prompted the Crusaders to switch goalies and that settled down the Hawks’ offense, who were held scoreless until deep into the third.
Meanwhile Hawks goalie Ryan Aldridge was strong in net, stymying several Crusader scoring opportunities. They were able to break through early in the third to cut the lead to 3-1 and make things tense on the Hawks bench.
The defense settled in however and Aldridge shut the door from there. Albright picked up his second of the game late in the third for a crucial insurance tally and to secure the victory. Ben White earned the assist.
NDSS’ Ben White reaches for a rebounding puck during Monday’s KASSAA semifinals. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Napanee had advanced to the semifinals with a 6-3 win Friday over Sydenham in the semifinals.
“We finally got rid of our Achilles Heel in the playoffs,” said Hawks coach Dave Brinkman, noting the team had struggled in the first round of the playoffs for several seasons, seeing strong seasons cut short by first round meetings with Sydenham. “That’s like three of five years we’ve played them in the first round.”
Brinkman noted this year’s team is one of the best skating teams they’ve had in a long time and they displayed it during Monday’s win.
With the win, an NDSS boys hockey team advances to KASSAA’s finals for the first time since 2011. They’ll be looking to win the school’s first title since 2002.
“It’s a huge deal for us,” said Hawks coach Jeff Birchard. “Sometimes the boys get playing and they don’t realize what a big deal it is to get this far.”
Napanee will take on La Salle in the finals at 2 p.m. at the Invista Centre.
Regardless of their showing at the KASSAA finals, the Hawks have advanced to EOSSAA next Tuesday in Renfrew.
As for the girls team, they return to defend last year’s KASSAA final following their 3-0 win on Monday.
Anna Baker, Taylor Gilmour and Maddi Wheeler each scored for the Hawks while Makenna Marlow was perfect in net to earn the shutout. The game was a rematch of last year’s finals, which Napanee won 2-1.
This year the Hawks will have to face Frontenac for the trophy. Puck drop is 12:30 p.m. at the Invista Centre.