On March 12, the Midget A Lions met with the Gatineau Barons for game three of their playoff series.
The Lions got off to a slow start with no goals in the first period. But it didn’t take long for the team to find their rhythm once the second period started.
The final score was 5-0 for the Lions. Goals were scored by Willis Egan, Carson Rusenstrom, Cole Sheppard, Evan Atkinson and Tyler Stanton. Their goals were assisted by Ryan Lang, Connor Gilpin, Atkinson, Rusenstrom, Jaden Stewart, Nick Curley and Hunter Lukacs-Hitz.
The win gave the Lions a spot in the semi-finals against the Loups Collines. The semi-finals consist of a best of three series with the winner deemed West Division Champs granting them a spot in the division finals.
The semi-final round started on March 14, with a home game. It was great to see the stands full of cheering fans. The game was closely matched with both teams moving up and down the ice. The Lions’ first goal was scored by Nick Curley on an assist by Willis Egan and Cole Sheppard. But the Loups answered back with one of their own right after evening up the score.
Half-way through the third Connor Gilpin fired a shot that hit the back of the net putting the Lions in the lead. The goal was assisted by Egan and Evan Atkinson. The crowd let out a sigh of relief. The Lions went on to score two more empty net goals for a 4-1 win. Other goals went to Atkinson assisted by Gilpin and Gilpin assisted by Atkinson.
Game two of the semi-finals was played in Masham on March 16. Once again this was a tight game that kept the cheering crowd of Lions fans on the edge of their seats. The team appreciates all the support even at their away games.
After three periods of play the score was tied 0-0. Both teams readied themselves for a sudden death four on four 10 minute overtime period. As it turned out, the Lions fans didn’t have to wait long. Thirty-one seconds into the fourth period, Jaden Stewart’s shot from the top of the circle found the back of the net ending the game.
The Lions are West Division winners and will now move on to the finals against the East winners, the Hull Citoyens. Games for this series are played in Gatineau with the winner of this best of three series moving on to represent the Outaouais at the provincial inter-regional tournament the first weekend of April.
Game one is March 21 at Campeau Arena at 7:40 p.m. Game two is March 23 at the Branchaud Briere Complex at 6 p.m. Game three (if required) will be March 24 at the Branchaud Brière Complex at 4 p.m.
Submitted by Diana Desabrais
