North York Renegades Sweep St. George Ravens to Advance to South Division Finals

The North York Renegades are moving on to the South Division Finals after a commanding 3-0 series sweep over the St. George Ravens in the second round of the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League (GMHL) playoffs. The Renegades showcased a combination of clutch scoring, strong goaltending, and disciplined play to dispatch the Ravens and continue their postseason march.

Game 1: Renegades Edge Ravens in Tight Opener
North York 3, St. George 2 – February 26, 2025
The series kicked off with a tightly contested battle at Gaukel Memorial Community Centre in St. George. North York came out on top with a 3-2 victory, led by a stellar performance from Sergei Purdyshov, who notched two goals and an assist. The Renegades built a 3-0 lead by the middle of the second period, with Damian Bridgett opening the scoring in the final seconds of the first period and Purdyshov adding a pair in the second. St. George pushed back with goals from Nathaniel Goodbrand and Carter Dwornikiewicz, but goaltender Artemii Gaidukov was rock solid, turning aside 32 of 34 shots for a .941 save percentage.

Game 2: Offensive Explosion Powers Renegades to 7-2 Victory
North York 7, St. George 2 – February 28, 2025
Returning home to Canlan Ice Sports York, the Renegades dominated Game 2 with a statement 7-2 win. Timothy Nguyen-Trang led the way with a hat trick, scoring a shorthanded goal in each period. Purdyshov continued his strong play with a goal and two assists, while Christopher Rende and Damian Bridgett also found the scoresheet. Special teams played a crucial role as North York capitalized on power-play opportunities and struck three times while shorthanded. Artemii Gaidukov delivered another strong outing in goal, stopping 27 of 29 shots. The Ravens struggled to contain North York’s speed and puck movement, putting them on the brink of elimination.

Game 3: Gaidukov’s Heroics Seal the Sweep
North York 5, St. George 3 – March 1, 2025
With a chance to close out the series, North York withstood an early push from St. George and secured a 5-3 victory in Game 3 to complete the sweep. The Ravens threw everything at the net, outshooting the Renegades 55-43, but Gaidukov stood tall with a remarkable 52-save performance, earning first-star honors. Purdyshov once again played a crucial role, scoring twice and adding an assist, while Rende registered three assists. The Renegades built a 4-1 lead in the third period before the Ravens made a late push, but the comeback effort fell short as North York secured the series-clinching win.

Goaltending Battle
Artemii Gaidukov was the backbone of the Renegades throughout the series, finishing with a .939 save percentage across three games and standing tall in key moments. St. George’s goaltenders, Edmund Docherty and Nathan Penman, had their moments but ultimately couldn’t contain North York’s offensive depth.

Key Performances

• Sergei Purdyshov (North York) – 5 goals, 4 assists (9 points)
• Timothy Nguyen-Trang (North York) – 4 goals, including three shorthanded
• Christopher Rende (North York) – 5 assists
• Artemii Gaidukov (North York) – .939 SV%, 52-save performance in Game 3

Implications & What’s Next
With the sweep, North York advances to the South Division Finals, where they will face their next opponent in pursuit of a GMHL championship. The Renegades have shown they can win tight games and dominate offensively, making them a formidable contender moving forward. Meanwhile, St. George sees their season come to an end despite a hard-fought effort, particularly in Game 3.

The Renegades now shift their focus to the next round, where they will look to carry their momentum and continue their playoff dominance.