Braeden Bowman of the Kitchener Dutchmen chases the puck during Game 2 of the team's playoff series against the Brampton Bombers. (Photo courtesy @JrB_Dutchmen)

Kitchener second team to move on in GOJHL playoffs 

The second place Kitchener Dutchmen are the second team to punch its ticket to the second round of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League playoffs, beating the Brampton Bombers in five games. The Dutchies won 6-1 on Wednesday night in Kitchener, joining the Elmira Sugar Kings in the second-round bracket. Sean Kawalec, Nathan Smilsky and Drayton Duckett each had a goal and an assist for Kitchener, and Lucas Patton made 18 saves in goal. The game got physical in the third period with the outcome all but decided, as the teams combined for 99 penalty minutes in the game, 79 of which belonged to Brampton. Kitchener now awaits its next opponent as the other two series move along. 

The Cambridge Redhawks evened their series with the Waterloo Siskins last night, winning 4-0 in Waterloo. The Redhawks, who finished in third place, stole back home ice advantage with a dominant effort in which they outshot Waterloo 43-25. Mike Leach stopped every shot he faced for Cambridge, while Tanner Wickware stopped 36 of 40 before being replaced by Zach Allan for the final five minutes of the game. Joseph Franzin opened the scoring for Cambridge in the first period, while Robbie Cranston and Tanner Bibby scored goals 57 seconds apart in the second to make it 3-0 Redhawks. Brendan Bauer put the game away in the third, scoring in his first game of the series. Game 5 is Saturday night at Galt Arena in Cambridge. 

The Stratford Warriors dealt a significant blow to the Listowel Cyclones’ playoff hopes in Game 4 on Wednesday night, beating the Cycs in double overtime in Listowel to take a 3-1 series lead back home to Allman Arena. Listowel opened the scoring early in the first on a Jonah White tally, but Evan Dowd answered for Stratford on a powerplay later in the frame. After trading goals in the second and third periods, the teams were headed to overtime tied 2-2. The first OT period solved nothing, but a hero emerged early in the second OT. Dowd scored on the Warriors’ first shot of double OT and their 43rd of the night, ending the game and giving Stratford the victory. Evan Morrison was sensational in goal for Listowel, making 40 saves as the Cycs were outshot 43-24. Rhett Kimmel got the win for Stratford. The Warriors can win the series tonight at home. A Listowel victory would mean Game 6 goes Sunday in Listowel. 

Titans can’t weather the Hurricanes in Halifax

The K-W Titans fell to the Halifax Hurricanes on Wednesday night, 114-107 in Nova Scotia’s capital. The game was played incredibly tight, with the difference being Halifax’s six-point lead at halftime. Akeem Ellis scored a team-high 30 points for the Titans, while Nigel Tyghter earned a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. 

The teams finished the first quarter tied at 23, but the Hurricanes opened up a lead in the second, outscoring K-W 26-20 to lead 49-43 at the break. Another tight quarter saw Halifax go up by seven points after the next twelve minutes, and that was as close as the Titans could get. The teams once again tied the fourth quarter, and the outcome was decided. Ed Horton scored 14 points in the fourth, but Halifax answered with timely defence and strong depth scoring. 

The Titans fall to 7-16 on the season with the loss, and still sit in last place in the National Basketball League of Canada’s Central Division. K-W will be at home to the St. John’s Edge on Saturday night at The Aud in Kitchener.