The long road to the Buckland Cup begins tonight (Friday) as round one of the Ontario Junior Hockey League playoffs will open in Trenton and Wellington.
The Golden Hawks, ranked sixth in the Canadian Junior Hockey League, host the Stouffville Spirit at the Dunc McDonald Community Gardens.
The G-Hawks finished 23 points ahead of Stouffville in the East Conference standing, however, the Spirit gave Trenton trouble splitting their four-game regular season series.
The Golden Hawks hit the post season on a four-game winning streak.
In Wellington, the Dukes host the Toronto Junior Canadiens in what promises to be a close series.
The Dukes finished five points ahead of the Junior Canadiens but Toronto won three of four in the regular season. However these teams have not met since December 5.
Wellington ended the regular season on a three-game winning streak while Toronto lost their final three games.
Both games start at 7:30.
The OJHL playoffs will go four rounds with the winner advancing to the Centennial Cup (formerly RBC Cup) May 9 – 19 in Oakville.
Pirates and Rebels eliminated
The season is over for two local teams in the Provincial Junior C Hockey League.
In Picton the Napanee Raiders scored four goals in the final 11 minutes of the third period to shock the Pirates 6-4 and win their preliminary series in six games.
Andrew Carr scored twice for Napanee while Cameron Krupa added a goal and three assists.
The Raiders play first place Frankford in Round 1.
And the Port Hope Panthers beat Campbellford 5-2 to sweep that best of seven and bring a merciful end to the Rebels’ season.
A season where they didn’t win a game.
The Panthers play Amherstview in Round 2.
