Adam Prudhomme
Beaver Sports
For the first time since 2014 the Port Hope Panthers will not represent the PJHL’s Tod Division in the Schmalz Cup finals.
Their playoff run came to an end Sunday after the Lakefield Chiefs topped them 3-2 in Game 7 of the Schmalz Cup conference finals.
Greg Powles and Andrew Gurr each scored for the Panthers in the third period as they attempted to rally back after allowing the game’s first three goals.
That the Panthers even reached Game 7 was a small victory in itself after they lost the first three games to the Orr Division champion Chiefs.
Port Hope responded with three straight wins of their own, taking Game 4 by a score of 5-1, shutting them out 4-0 in Game 5 and edging them 3-2 in Game 6 to setup the winner-take-all in Lakefield.
That’s when the magic ran out however as they fell on goal short of forcing overtime. The loss ends the four time Tod Division champion Panthers’ bid to end their three year losing streak in the Junior C provincial championship series.
The Chiefs will now go on to face the Stayner Siskins of the PJHL’s Carruthers Division.
On the other side of the playoff bracket, the Lambeth Lancers will face the Lakeshore Canadians in Game 7 of their Western Conference finals tonight. The winner advances to face the Glanbook Rangers in the semifinals. The winners of each semifinals will meet in the Schmalz Cup finals.
Meanwhile the Napanee Raiders, who had their Schmalz Cup bid run cut extremely short in their league semifinals, are already beginning the process of working towards next year. Last week the club announced coach Mike Hartwick would return for another season following their record setting regular season. They will host their annual year-end banquet April 11.