Georgina
March 20, 2008 01:08 PM
By: By John Jamieson
The Georgina Ice have won the Central Ontario Junior C championship with a four-game sweep of the Lakefield Chiefs.
The Ice will next face the Napanee Raiders of the Empire League in a series starting tonight in Napanee, then back at the Ice Palace Saturday. Both games start at 8:30 p.m.
Ontario Hockey Association Central chairperson Trevor Tinney presented the Cougar Cup to team captains Andy Lamoureux, Scott Sime, Tyler and Brandon Gouveia after Saturday's victory at the Sutton Arena. The fans watched as the team skated with the trophy symbolizing a winning season.
The Ice hosted Lakefield, the league champions, in game four last Saturday night.
The arena was packed with loyal fans and families in anticipation of the Ice winning their second Central title in the team's history.
The Ice came into the game with a 3-0 series lead which was made possible by Eric Daoust’s game-winning overtime goal in Lakefield on the previous Thursday, along with Kevin Stewart’s five-point night.
Nick Hearn opened the scoring for the Ice at the at 5:50 mark of the first period with Brock Vandergulik and Vince Migliano drawing the assists. Six minutes later Kevin Stewart who has had a hot hand in the series once again, added to the Ice lead with Brandon Gouveia and Scott Sedore drawing the assists. The Ice went to the dressing room with a 2-0 lead.
Nick Hearn opened the second period scoring with his second goal of the game on a pass from Don Sanderson making the score 3-0 for the Ice. The Chiefs were not willing to give up and responded with a power-play goal by Josh Hunt narrowing the Ice lead to two goals. Dylan Tice and Brock Koczka assisted on Hunt’s goal.
With 4:40 remaining in the period Don Sanderson restored the three-goal lead as Tyler Gouveia and Chris Colwill drew the assists. The Ice closed out the second with a 4-1 lead. The fans were buzzing in anticipation of the team's arrival for the third period as all knew the Ice were just 20 minutes away from claiming the championship.
Despite a rough third period the Ice players kept their composure as goaltender Jimmy Sarjeant kept the door shut despite some scoring chances for the Chiefs. The Chiefs brought the game back within two goals with only two minutes remaining as Nick Kidd found the mark on a pass from Jody Fitzgerald and Jordan Hill.
That was as close as the Chiefs were going to get as the fans counted down the dying seconds to the final buzzer as the Ice completed the sweep with a 4-2 victory.
Team president Glenn Ulrich said the win was dedicated to loyal supporters Buzzy Big Canoe, who died last year and Ray Stewart, father of the team's assistant coach Mike Stewart and the grandfather of Ice player Kevin Stewart. Mr. Stewart died earlier this month after returning from an Ice game, an event he never missed.
The Ice have now advanced to the OHA provincial quarter finals against Napanee. Napanee won the Empire League Championship over Amherstview last Saturday as well. The Ice last won the league title in the 2003-2004 season.
The rest of the series schedule and more information is posted on the Ice website at georginaice.com
Ice Chips: Former Georgina Ice forward Justin Soryal has signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. Justin began his junior career with the Ice in 2003/04 before going on to play four seasons with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League. Justin becomes the first player in Ice history to sign an NHL contract. The Ice congratulate Justin and his family and wish him the best of luck and continued success in his career.