Members of the Cambridge Redhawks celebrate a goal against the Waterloo Siskins. (Photo by FS Fotos)

Redhawks jump Dutchmen for second place in Midwest 

For the first time in a long while this season, the Kitchener Dutchmen don’t occupy the second seed in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League Midwestern Conference. They were leapfrogged by the surging Cambridge Redhawks this weekend, thanks to back-to-back Redhawks wins on Saturday and Sunday. 

The weekend began with a match-up of two teams battling for home-ice advantage in their likely first round series, as the fourth-place Stratford Warriors hosted the Listowel Cyclones, currently sitting fifth in the conference. The Cycs might be wishing for a different first round opposition after this one, as the Warriors dominated from start to finish on their way to a 7-1 blowout. Drew Welsch led the way for Stratford tallying two goals and two assists, while Tyler Parr made 27 saves in the win. It was a chippy affair that featured 38 total penalty minutes, foreshadowing what would likely be a physical playoff series between the rivals. 

On Saturday, Cambridge handled the Brampton Bombers at Galt Arena, 4-1, thanks to three unanswered goals to finish the game. Austin Forsyth scored twice and added an assist, and Mike Leach was steady in goal making 24 stops. The win let the Redhawks keep pace with the Dutchmen, who snuck past the Waterloo Siskins at home, 3-2. Luc Brzustowski broke the tie five minutes into the third period for the Dutchies, and Kitchener played excellent defense to seal the win. 

It was a full slate of games on Sunday, with Stratford and Listowel meeting again, with the Warriors again coming out on top, 4-2. The host Cyclones couldn’t manage double-digit shots in any period, and were outshot by the Warriors 34-22. Evan Dowd scored the game-winner a minute into the third period on the powerplay. The first-place Elmira Sugar Kings rolled over Brampton at home, 8-3, moving closer to clinching the first seed in the Midwest after a 6-1 drubbing of the Brantford Bandits the night prior. The Redhawks stayed hot by doubling up the Siskins in Waterloo, 4-2, on the strength of a three-goal second period. Joey Warywoda and Cole Howran each had a goal and an assist for Cambridge, and Leach was stellar in goal making 29 saves. 

With the two victories, Cambridge moves one point clear of the Dutchmen for second place, but Kitchener will host Stratford tonight with a chance to take it back. Stratford has quietly snuck into the running for second and third place, and are only two points back of the Dutchmen, giving tonight’s game added importance for both teams. Elmira sits 12 points up on Cambridge, and will be a force in the playoffs. Listowel is comfortably in fifth position, seven points clear of Waterloo with eight games left to play. Only three weekends remain in the GOJHL regular season, and there is still plenty to be decided.