Elmira's Jeremy Goodwin (15) gets into a shoving match with a Kitchener Dutchmen player during a game in Elmira. (Photo by Faisal Ali)

Kitchener and Elmira tied after two games in Midwest playoffs

The Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League playoffs began on Tuesday night in Kitchener with Game 1 between the Dutchmen and Elmira Sugar Kings. This series features the fourth- and fifth-place teams in the Midwest, and on paper is the tightest match-up of the first round. The Dutchies earned home ice in the series on the second last day of the season by beating Brantford.

In Game 1, though, it was the road squad who found twine first as Hunter Dubecki scored for Elmira just three minutes into the game, before teammate Matthew Tolton extended the lead to two before the first period ended. After falling behind 4-0 midway through the second, Kitchener's offense finally woke up and cut the lead in half after 40 minutes. The comeback was null, though, as Ivan Brewer scored unassisted for Elmira midway through the third period and the Sugar Kings drew first blood in the series with a 5-2 win. Mat Woroniuk was solid in goal for the Kings stopping 34 shots. Game 2 shifted to Elmira where the Dutchies were looking to avenge their home loss with a series-tying road win. It did not take them long to find the game winner, as Tyler Harrison scored on his first shift, 54 seconds in, to give Kitchener the lead. That was all the support Lucas Patton needed in goal as he stopped all 26 shots he faced leading the Dutchmen to the 3-0 shutout victory. Sean Kawalec scored a powerplay goal in the second period and Drayton Duckett sealed it with an empty netter late in the third. 

With the series now even at one game apiece, Kitchener will have an opportunity to take back home ice advantage this Saturday at 4:30 pm at Kinsmen Arena. Elsewhere, the Waterloo Siskins will begin their first round match-up against the Cambridge Redhawks tonight at the Waterloo Rec Complex. Listowel and Stratford, playing Brampton and Brantford, respectively, will both get going on Friday night at home. 

Titans' comeback falls short in Cape Breton

The K-W Titans are in a battle for the final playoff spot in the National Basketball League, so every game down the stretch is a big one. The Titans were in Nova Scotia to take on the Cape Breton Highlanders on Wednesday night. The Highlanders currently sit third in the Atlantic Division while K-W is fifth in the Central, needing to be in the top four to qualify for playoffs. 

Both teams were sluggish in the opening quarter, missing open looks and getting into foul trouble, with Cape Breton leading just 20-19 after 12 minutes. After a livelier second frame saw the Highlanders take a tight 45-42 lead into half-time, the game broke open after the break. Titans forward Akeem Ellis powered the K-W attack, scoring 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting, highlighted by three 3-pointers. While putting up 35 points, the Titans could not seem to contain the Highlanders who used a balanced lineup to counter with 40 points in the quarter. Trailing by eight going into the fourth, K-W needed a big push. Their 3-point shooting went cold at the wrong time, though, and late foul trouble allowed the Highlanders to hang on for a 112-108 victory. Ellis finished with a game-high 31 points and 11 rebounds, while Ed Horton turned in a strong 24-6-6 effort for the Titans. 

K-W remains out East for a tilt with the Island Storm in Charlottetown. The Storm are last place in the NBL with a 5-22 record, so the Titans must take advantage of their opportunity to gain ground on fourth-place Sudbury. After their Atlantic swing, the Titans return home to face Halifax on Sunday, March 10th at 2 pm at The Aud.