Kitchener Dutchmen forward Mitch Lee chips the puck during a game versus the Stratford Warriors earlier this season. (Photo by Censational Photography)

Kitchener retakes second place with dominant week 

The Kitchener Dutchmen took full advantage of their games in hand over the teams chasing them in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League standings this week, as the Dutchies rolled over the Brampton Bombers in back to back games. 

Kitchener hosted Brampton on Tuesday night, and made sure there was no doubt which team would skate away with two points. The Dutchmen opened the scoring four minutes into the game on a Luke Munroe tally, and responded to Brampton tying the game by scoring twice more to take a 3-1 lead into the second period. Cam Allan and Jeb Paulsen each had goals for Kitchener in the first period, as the Dutchies outshot the Bomber 19-6. Brampton cut the lead to one early in the second, but Kitchener rallied for five unanswered goals the rest of the way and cruised to an 8-2 drubbing. Sean Kawalec couldn’t add to his Midwest-leading goal total but did chip in with three assists. Nathan Smilsky, Mitch Lee and Munroe also had three points for Kitchener, and Lucas Patton stopped 20 shots in the win. 

On Thursday night, Kitchener paid Brampton a visit and again put up eight goals. This time around, however, the end result was not as certain. The Bombers took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission after taking advantage of their scarce opportunities; the Dutchies outshot the Bombers 19-9 in the first period on Thursday. The opening of the second period corresponded with the opening of the floodgates for Kitchener, as the visitors scored five straight times in the second frame to open up a 6-2 lead, before a Brampton tally with one second left cut the lead to three. Lee scored his second of the game to restore Kitchener’s four-goal lead, and Kyle Kennery scored later on the powerplay to give Kitchener eight goals in back to back games. Patton once again stopped 20 shots and the Dutchies won, 8-3. 

Kitchener now sits two points up on the Cambridge Redhawks for second place in the Midwest, and still has one game in hand. This is the final weekend of the GOJHL regular season, and the Kitchener-Cambridge battle for second-third is the only remaining question mark for seeding. Elmira will finish first, Stratford fourth, Listowel fifth, Waterloo sixth, Brampton seventh, and Brantford eighth. 

K-W showing signs of life in NBL Canada 

The K-W Titans have won back to back National Basketball League of Canada games for the first time this season. 

On Monday afternoon, the Titans took down the first-place London Lightning in London in a 108-107 double-overtime classic. K-W played unbelievable defense in the first quarter, holding the high-flying Lightning to only six points. London would get going later, but K-W always seemed to have an answer. The culmination came in double OT when the Titans cruised down the field and converted on a layup with seconds to go, and London missed its final shot at the buzzer to seal K-W’s upset victory. Damon Lynn was K-W’s top scorer with 26 points, while London got 28 from Randy Phillips. 

The Titans hosted the St. John’s Edge at The Aud last night, and didn’t leave it to the last second this time. K-W came out on fire, putting up 35 points in the opening frame, highlighted by 14 from big man Ed Horton. Strong defense and timely shooting kept the Titans’ momentum strong all game, and K-W was able to cruise to another win, 101-86. Horton finished with a game-high 19 points and added nine assists, while no Edge player scored more than 15 points. 

The Titans move to 6-12 on the season now, and will be in Windsor this Sunday afternoon to take on the Express.