Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Napanee’s quest for the franchise’s third Schmalz Cup came to an end Saturday night with a 3-2 loss to the Clarington Eagles in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals at the SPC.
Jordan Shaw scored the eventual game winner just shy of the midway point of the third period, breaking a 2-2 tie.
Napanee made it interesting in the final two minutes, going with a six man attack and getting a few good chances but were ultimately unable to solve Clarington’s Oliver Webster who finished with 23 saves and the game’s first star.
Logan Vale tracks the puck in front of his net during second period action. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Napanee took some time to find their legs in this must-win game, getting outshot 6-0 before they registered a shot on goal and ultimately outshot 12-7 over the opening 20 minutes. Despite that the Raiders actually got on the board first courtesy of Ben White at 9:07 on the power-play. Kayden Hambly responded for the Eagles at 16:18.
Joe Voice scored at 15:49 of the second to give the Eagles a lead heading into the final intermission.
Napanee Raider defenceman Luke Jarmin delivers a powerful hip check. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Down to possibility the final 20 minutes of their season, the Raiders came out flying. Cameron Krupa scored just 2:12 into the frame to set up the tense finish.
That would stand as the final goal scored for the home team in the 2023-24 campaign. Shaw notched the game winner seven and a half minutes later. Raider fans had a brief moment of hope as the refs got together to discuss whether there had been goaltender interference on the play. Much to the dismay of the hometown supporters, the goal stood.
Logan Vale, who played over 1,300 minutes of hockey these playoffs and every game of this series, took the loss with 24 saves. After suffering a brain bleed late in the regular season, he appeared to be done for the year. In a pleasant surprise, his recovery went much quicker than expected and he returned to play 22 postseason games, finishing with a 13-5-3 record with a 2.29 GAA.
The Clarington Eagles celebrate with the PJHL’s Eastern Conference Final banner. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
He seemingly couldn’t help but watch after the game as he took a knee on the Raider blue line, looking on as the Eagles skated in their zone with the Eastern Conference banner. For the Eagles it’s their third straight east title and second time in three years they topped the Raiders to capture it.
The Napanee Raiders toast the home crowd as their season came to an end Saturday night. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
As they left the ice, Napanee players raised their sticks to the nearly 1,000 fans who turned out for the match.
The loss marked the end of the Junior C road for Napanee’s overagers Marshall McFarland, Benn Chubbs, Krupa and Ben Carter.
Ben Carter, playing in his final junior game, challenges an Eagle player in the neutral zone. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Disappointing as the loss was for the Raiders, their playoff run significantly improved their overall outlook on the season. They regressed in terms of their regular season record compared to last season, finishing fourth in the Tod Division. They turned it on come playoff time, knocking off the Picton Pirates and then pulling off upset wins over the top ranked Frankford Huskies and then sweeping the Port Hope Panthers to win the league title.
The Eagles are now heading to the Schmalz Cup semifinals against the Hanover Barons where they’re looking for their third straight trip to the all-Ontario finals. This group has yet to win it all however, finishing as runner-ups the last two years.