Adam Prudhomme
Editor
For a second straight year, the winner of the PJHL Tod Division will come down to a battle of the Bay of Quinte Skyway Bridge, starting with Game 1 Friday at Napanee’s SPC.
Last year the Napanee Raiders swept the Picton Pirates as part of their 20-1 run to a Schmalz Cup title. This time around however, it might not be so easy.
Both clubs are coming off first round semifinal sweeps, the Raiders over the Gananoque Islanders while the Pirates grounded the Amherstview Jets.
And while the defending provincial Junior C champions once again enter as the top seed, their Pirate opponents may just be the hottest team in the loop right now.
After wrapping up November eight back of a playoff spot, the Pirates sailed to 20 wins over their final 23 games, climbing all the way to second place. Though Napanee took the season series, the Pirates claimed victory in the two most recent meetings, a 2-1 overtime win on Dec. 6 and a 6-3 win on Jan. 9.
Though a young team, the Pirates’ lineup boasts the league’s top scorer in Khaden Henry, who had 37 goals in 43 games played en route to earning the division’s Rookie of the Year honours.
Looking at the season as a whole however, the numbers are heavily in the Raiders’ favour. They outscored the Pirates 240-194, both in 44 games played. Napanee goaltenders allowed just 92 goals while the Pirates saw 130 pucks find twine against them. Napanee finished a full 19 points ahead of Picton in the standings as well.
By virtue of their higher finish the Raiders will host four of the seven games, if it goes the distance. That could be key as the Pirates had their share of struggles away from Huff Estate Arena, going just 10-11-0-1 on the road. That’s contrasted by a 17-4-1 mark at home.
Napanee was the picture of consistency all season, actually playing slightly better on the road. They were 19-3 when visiting while posting a 17-2-1-2 record at the SPC.
Game 1 of the finals gets underway Friday at 7:30 p.m.
From there it’ll be almost a week layoff when the series picks up for Game 2 March 12 in Picton at 7:30 p.m.
Game 3 goes March 13 in Napanee. Game 4 March 15 in Picton.
If necessary, Game 5 is March 17 in Napanee, Game 6 March 19 in Picton and a winner-take-all Game 7 would go March 20 in Napanee.
All games feature 7:30 p.m. puck drops.