The Raiders will find the Vipers a tough team to handle. Goalie Kevin Kapalka has found a new lease on life as the former Derby stalwart has a 1.91 GAA and a .932 save percentage in playoff games. He also won 7 of 8 for the Vipers after being acquired late in the regular season. Georgetown has overall balance, good size and are a strong defensive team, did they rest on their laurels a little against the Derbys or are cracks showing? If there are then the likes of Doug Clarkson, Dorian Peca, Brad Fleishman and Colin Campbell will take full advantage. Look for a big series from the Raiders' Andrew Marcoux and Jeremy Wick, not to mention a seventeen year old who used to wear a Derby uniform too. Georgetown but it may take a half a dozen games.
The Blades and the Cougars will be an exciting match-up with my nod going to the Blades mainly becuase of the experience of the players; the club's strong defensive record and a pretty decent goalie by the name of Matt Hache. He posted a two GAA but was not overly tested against the Capitals. The late season acquisitions of Tyler Leimbrock and Chris Muise from that same team may have put an already strong offence over the top. John McDonald's Cougars do not have a bunch of high-scorers and highlight reel makers but they play good solid hockey. They had a physical first round against the Icehawks and will miss Andrew Hare in net for the start of the series. Blades, also in six games.
In the Phillips the matchup to see should be the Tigers and the Otters..not just a bunch of animals! Huntsville gets the extra home game in this series which could be very important as I do not see an outbreak of road wins in this pairing. Huntsville are similar to Burlington in that any one of several players can step to the forefront and lead the team on a particular night but look for Jon Whitelaw to make his presence felt now the chips are on the table. For the Tigers David Morley will be a main cog with large contributions from Domenic Monardo and Kyle Paige. Goaltending, excellent on both sides is about a saw-off. Aurora was given a rough ride by the Collingwood Blues and may be a little slow off the mark but expect this one to go seven with the Muskoka Otters advancing to the next level.
The other pairing in the Phillips may not be as close but don't underestimate the Crushers. Mark Arnold, Robert Visca and Jarrod Connolly have got off to fast playoff starts and Andy Groulx will have to be on his best form to set back the Couchiching attack. The Rockland native is a competitor who posted seven shutouts during the regular season but he will be hard pressed to perform that feat against the likes of Mackenzie Micks, Matt Smyth, Tyler Swan, Josh Cousineau et al. And there are lots of 'als'. Groulx may be able to steal one and I don't think that there will be any runaways but look for the Terriers to get there in five.
The Ruddock has two intriguing affairs with the Muskies tangling with the Liftlock Stars. Lindsay has an ace in 'keeper Matt Ginn while ex-Cap Taylor Hewson knows the ropes. With the likes of these two in the net the pressure is off the Muskies forwards but there are several who can be game winners especially ex-Waxer Murray Free and Kevin George. Peterborough got off to such a slow start in the Ruddock losing six of their first ten before putting together a seven game winning streak which ignited their regular season. They have skilled forwards galore who can light the lamp led by Trevor McKinney, Ryan Herlihey and Matt McCann and a great set up artist in Pier-Olivier Cotnoir. This series should be a treat for fans of both teams with the Stars prevailing in six contests.
Kingston and Ajax..the Voyageurs in four.. I say no. The Ruddock champions, after two lopsided victories, were made to look human by the Panthers and the Attack has a top-notch goalkeeper in David Jenkins and several players who know where the next is i.e. Luke Hannon, who never got a chance with the Wings, Ian Watters, recently acquired Brett Eagleson and setup man Blake Boddy. Have they got enough behind the blueline to handle the Vees power forwards? Chris Gour and Bobby Gertsakis would say yes. Depth and experience may be the deciding factors in favour of the Kimco's led by Jeff Blackburn, Mike Farrell and ex-Herc Dustin Welsh as well as super-rookie Brock Higgs. This may sound like the rantings of an old chap but despite picking the Vees in six I have to say that this matchup could have the potnetial to be the upset of the round.
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I still say the Red Wings and the league should take a serious look at you and pony up some cash for your unbiased and interesting takes on the Wings and this league.
I like the evaluation of Ajax and Kingston because I will be following this one closely.
The Ajax attack have their fans revved up and with good reason. I have been on both ends of the spectrum following teams which have been heavily favoured and huge underdogs.
The Vees are heavy favourites and the Attack, with their first serious playoff round win, are poised as underdogs. It is easier, IMO, to play as underdog because nobody expects you to win. Sure the staunch supporters of this Attack team are thinking in terms of upset. They are excited and rightfully so. I can tell you that playing in that role is a lot easier than playing in a heavily-favoured role.
I remember the 2000/2001 playoff divsion winning Trenton Sting over the heavily favoured Lindsay Muskies. They rode that underdog role into the 7th game in Lindsay and kept the game close and won in overtime on a blooping shot. It was absolute euphoria for we Trenton fans. And the 2006/2007 Kingston Voyageurs were heavy underdogs against the powerful Bowmanville Eagles in a division playoff semi final. They beat the heavily favoured Eagles. Again euphoria for we fans.
As for the other end of the spectrum, I can say that a Greater Kingston Senior Soccer team here in Kingston have been heavy favourites for the last decade. And they have found a way to be repeatedly successful in that role. The fans against you are not kind and really hope you will stumble and fall. It is this kind of unfavourable response that often spurs teams to better things or causes them to crumble when all goes against them during the games.
Nd this year's Vees are feeling the weight of being heavily-favoured. They are learning what it is to have such high expectations on them and what it takes to produce. After having Pickering scare them to death, it isn't a comfortable feeling. They will have to deal with it all over again against Ajax. Believe me, Ajax will try to take full advanatage of the underdog role. This is new ground for this Kingston team.
This will be a very interesting study in how well they deal with the pressure of expectations on them.
This might turn out to be the best series of the two Ruddock ones afterall.I am about to find out, as a fan, what it feels like to be rooting for a heavily favoured team in this lleague. It is what Wellington, St Michael's and Aurora fans know all too well.
Stay tuned.
Wayjoy
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Though I did single out the Attack goalie, David Jenkins as it looks like they will be leaning heavily on him during this series, I failed to mention the Kingston netminder Shawn Sirman whose regular season average of 2.36 and save percentage of .922 was none too shabby! He got three shutouts too as did Cody Rosen. Sirman's playoff record so far is even better- a two average and a .923 save % plus a shutout in game two and he even found time to get a couple of assists. It must give the Vees brass a positive feeling to have a goalie like Rosen available in a seven game series.
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Wow, that's very BAD news for the Cats. I knew that both suffered injuries in the 4th Collingwood game in Aurora, thought Bodley would miss some games but Morley I thought would be back for the start of the Otter series. Couldn't be worse news for the Tigers if they are out for weeks, both were playing so well. Losing Morley is like losing Gretzky.
I remember in 2006 when the Tigers lost their leading scorer Jeric Agosta going into the playoffs, cost them the North Title that year against Stouffville in my opinion. As I recall he was injured in a game with the Otters in Huntsville. So important to have no injuries going into the playoffs, especially your leading scorers.
If true, it's time for the rest of the Tigers to show what they are made up, close ranks, dig deep and come up with a more concentrated effort against the Otters. Sometimes circumstances like this will bring out the best from the rest of the team.
The Cats have a lot of talent, they can do it but it won't be easy against a healthy Huntsville team.
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I've got a feeling that despite the loss of Bodley and the Magician that there is enough talent on this club that I will not have to revise my prediction..however, they are tough losses for sure. So many players on this team have the ability to score clutch goals- Michael Sardella had NINE game winners on the regular season for example. The four V's..Vangog, Van Natter, Virgoe and Vanderlugt.. Monardo, Paige, Happenney and the list goes on. There's lots of roar left in the Tigers!
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i think the tigers otters series will be based on who is more disciplined. if george and pinkney lose their cool it may equalize the loss of morley and bodley
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Blueliner has informed us that Stein will start in goal for Ajax Saturday game one, if this is so change my prediction to Kingston 4 to 2 in the series!
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Come on it is just someone pulling our collective leg. Jenkins got them through the first round they will not start Stein now. I do not see it in game one at least.
The Morely/Gretzky thing, SMC could have picked a better comparision, but I am sure you understand what he is saying.
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Losing Morley could just be like the Leafs losing Sundin the one year they went on that run to the Eastern conference finals. On top of losing Sundin I think they were missing about 6-7 other regular contributors. Sundin, Corson, Renberg, Roberts, Reichel, Lumme, Pilar, Valk, Tucker and Domi all were injured during the playoff run. It astounds me to this day that the Leafs managed to get to the conference final that year. The line combinations in the first round against the Islanders that were forced by injured should never have got through that series. I remember one night our number one center was Robert Reichel. Just goes to show you it is not the individuals who make up the team, but it is the collectivity of the whole.
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In my opinion NO, although I don't think they're going to be swept, I can't see Huntsville losing this one. More depth/toughness/skill on the Otters and with the injuries to the cats will be tough pressed to take the best of seven.
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Wex, he must be pretty thick to not get my gist by referring Morley to Gretzky. Obviously I'm trying to point out how important Morley's play is to the Tigers, maybe I should have used, as Matty points out, Sundin as a comparison, but then I never liked Sundin so that's why I used Gretzky.
Believe me the loss of Morley and Bodley are huge losses to the Cats.
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I simply cannot believe they would go with Stein to start unless , it is for a very good reason.
Could it be Jenkins is injured or sick?
All conjecture at this point. You can be sure that Ajax will go with what they think will be their best chance.
Jenkins was rock solid in all 4 games against Bowmanville. His team were outshot in three of the four games and he won all but one of them.
As a side note, this divisional playoff semi final will be the Vees' 7th straight appearance.
The Vees last won a divisional first place pennant in 1996/97 before this year and the last divisional playoff title they laid claim to was in the 1988/89 season.
It's been a long time.
Wayjoy
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Hey SMC57 you must be thick. If you really think he's that good they don't have a chance of beating anyone. There are players on that team as good or better than Morley, Paige, Sardella ect... If you don't see that I know a good opthalmologist! He is ONE of their better players but I hope , know, the Tigers have more depth than your comparison suggests. I am pulling for the Tigers regardless.
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The Tiger's "SMM" line of Sardella, Morley, Monardo scored 218 pts during the season and were the Tiger's biggest producing line. The "spark" on that line was Morley with 50 assists, no question. The three of them had a fantastic "chemistry" that produced goals game in and game out, not only on offense but on the PK also. If you ever played this game at a major level, which I doubt you have from your comments, you would understand about "chemistry" between linemates. Sardella and Monardo are outstanding players but they will be the 1st to admit that without their centerman Morley, their chemistry gets broken up and does effect their effectiveness and the Tiger's offensive drive. The "SMM" line knew at all times where each was and where each was headed, that was why they were able to ring up 218 pts. Unfortunately that "chemistry" has been thrown off with the injury to Morley and it is very difficult to regain it with another centerman in a short period of time like a 4/7 playoff series.
Of course the Tigers have many great players, they wouldn't be where they are year in and year out without great players, however the "SMM" line with 218 pts during the regular season has been effected by the loss of Morley and nobody knows that more than the rest of the Tiger team.
Having said that, I have confidence that the Cats will bounce back starting tomorrow afternoon and will give the Otters trouble for the rest of the series.
My reference to you as being "thick" was in reply to your insinuation that I was making Morley out to be of NHL caliber or something like that. I'm not really sure what the hell you mean't, your comment was so ridiculous that I thought you had missed the Morley reference to Gretzky as a comparison only to his importance to the Tigers as Gretzky was to all the teams he played on.
It's not that difficult to comprehend my reference to Gretzky, maybe now you will understand what I was trying to get across.
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You are entitled to your opinions. Yes I have played some Jr. hockey at higher levels but that is not the point. Its allways people like you that insult others from behind a computer. I would be glad to meet in person if you wish to continue to refer to me as thick. Just let me know or drop the insults!!!!!
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