The Napanee Exit Realty Acceleration Bantams advanced to the semi-finals to face South Muskoka. On Friday, they closed out the series with Prince Edward County with a convincing 5-2 win in Game 5. Outshooting their opponents 38-8, they got goals from Marshall Maracle, Carter McKee, Gavin Brooks, Jakob Dacosta and Owen Gibson. This gave them a 7-3 advantage in points in the six point series. In Game 4, they held a wide margin in play taking two-thirds of the shots, and spent long periods in the County’s end of the rink to gain an overtime 1-1 tie. Ethan Martin scored on a rebound, set up by Zach Slaven and Gavin Brooks. Goalie Ryan Aldridge performed well in both games. The first scheduled game in Bracebridge was cancelled as a result of weather, so puck drop will be Saturday at 5 p.m. at the SPC.
-The Joyce’s Meats & Deli Atom BBs began their semi-finals with Collingwood at the SPC, winning 7-3 and 9-2. Seconds into Game 1, Malcolm McCaw, with his first of two, stretched the twine from Wyatt Whalen. Matt Airhart got the first of two set up by Ben Kerr. Kerr displayed a burst of speed to break in alone with a high shot blocker side for their third tally. Kohen Cutler got the winner, and added another. Jack Godfrey and Caleb Scrimshaw shared goaltending duties.
On Sunday, they continued their relentless forecheck, winning 9-2. Again, they got contributions from Airhart (four), McCaw, Cutler, as well as Sophie Fraser (two), and Wyatt Albright.
-The Napanee L&A Mutual Insurance Atom AEs, had the week off, but learned they will play Collingwood in their semi-final series. The only other two teams left are Strathroy and Tillsonburg, and Strathroy needs one more win to advance to the finals.
-The Peewee BBs lost 5-2 in Game 5 in Lindsay to end their playoff run. They had been tied 4-4 in points, and needed a win to continue. Lindsay moves on to play South Muskoka.
-The Peewee AE squad, down 4-0 in points, battled back to win 5-4 over Oro in a game played in Deseronto. Carter Slaven had a hat trick, while Coulson South chipped in a single. Saturday, they led 3-2 in the late going, thanks to goals by Slaven, Ryan Maracle, and Owen Dwyer, but two Oro goals in the last 31 seconds eliminated the Stars on the 4-3 loss.
-The Napanee Midget BBs were also eliminated from playoff contention with a 3-1 loss in Lindsay. Down 4-2 in points to Lindsay going into the weekend, they needed a victory, but couldn’t pull it off.
-The Novice BBs ended playoffs with round robin games in Newcastle and Wellington. Saturday they were 4-1 winners facing Newcastle. In Wellington, the Stars were 6-3 winners. Lindsay and Stirling advanced out of the six team group.
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Napanee House League teams will finish out their play in the Inter- Community League holding playoff finals this weekend. Napanee’s Strathcona Paper Centre will host Novice Finals on Saturday, while Atoms visit Amherstview, Peewees will be in Stirling, Bantams play in Frontenac (A Finals) and Midgets travel to Gananoque.