Northumberland Stars Sweep Richmond Hill Rampage in First-Round Series

The Northumberland Stars, the top seed in the South Division, showcased their dominance in the opening round of the GMHL playoffs with a decisive two-game sweep of the ninth-seeded Richmond Hill Rampage. After an explosive offensive display in Game 1, the Stars followed up with a tighter yet controlled victory in Game 2 to punch their ticket to the second round.

Game 1: Northumberland 9, Richmond Hill 3

The Stars set the tone early with an offensive onslaught, outshooting the Rampage 67-32 en route to a commanding 9-3 victory at the Keeler Centre. Northumberland’s power play was a major factor, striking three times as Richmond Hill struggled to stay out of the penalty box.

Period 1:
Northumberland wasted no time establishing control, striking three times in the opening frame. Jaden Smith got things started on the power play at 4:13, followed by goals from Ross Maycock and Matt Shulist, giving the Stars a 3-0 lead heading into intermission.

Period 2:
The second period saw Northumberland extend their lead with four more goals, including two from Dario Alimonti. Thomas Johnston and Daniil Tyurikov also found the scoresheet, while Richmond Hill finally got on the board with a goal from Christapor Gosdanian. A major penalty and game misconduct to Richmond Hill’s Lucas Codinera further tilted the momentum in Northumberland’s favor.

Period 3:
Richmond Hill fought back with goals from Bryan Ho and Gosdanian, but the damage had already been done. The Stars tacked on two more, with Mitchell Quesnel and Johnston sealing the victory.

Three Stars of the Game:
⭐ Dario Alimonti (Northumberland) – 2G, 1A
⭐⭐ Thomas Johnston (Northumberland) – 2G, 1A
⭐⭐⭐ Ross Maycock (Northumberland) – 1G, 2A

Game 2: Northumberland 5, Richmond Hill 3

Despite a heroic 79-save effort from Richmond Hill’s William Whited, Northumberland’s relentless attack proved too much to handle, as the Stars secured a 5-3 victory at Elvis Stojko Arena to complete the sweep.

Period 1:
Richmond Hill struck first with a power-play goal from Payton Smith at 18:22, capitalizing on a rare moment of momentum. However, it was a minor victory in an otherwise lopsided period, as Northumberland outshot the Rampage 24-8.

Period 2:
The Stars roared back in the middle frame, scoring three unanswered goals. Matt Shulist evened the game at 2:20, followed by a go-ahead tally from Owen Brady. A power-play marker from William Shmyr at 8:55 put Northumberland in control heading into the final period.

Period 3:
Northumberland extended their lead with an unassisted goal from Ryan Boon, but Richmond Hill refused to go quietly. Nicoló Galeone struck twice late in the period, briefly giving the Rampage hope. However, Sterling Poff put the game away at 18:53, capping off the sweep.

Three Stars of the Game:
⭐ William Whited (Richmond Hill) – 79 saves, .940 SV%
⭐⭐ William Shmyr (Northumberland) – 1G, 1A
⭐⭐⭐ Ryan Boon (Northumberland) – 1G, 1A

Goaltending Battle

Northumberland’s goaltenders were steady throughout the series, with Brady Dyer making 29 saves in Game 1 and Timotej Knapik stopping 23 of 26 shots in Game 2. Richmond Hill relied on Joshua Hosein in Game 1 (58 saves on 67 shots) and Whited’s remarkable effort in Game 2, but the overwhelming shot disparity ultimately proved too much to overcome.

Key Performances

• Dario Alimonti (Northumberland): 2G, 1A in Game 1
• Thomas Johnston (Northumberland): 2G, 1A in Game 1, key assist in Game 2
• Ross Maycock (Northumberland): 1G, 2A in Game 1
• Christapor Gosdanian (Richmond Hill): 2G, 2A across both games
• Nicoló Galeone (Richmond Hill): 2G in Game 2

Implications

Northumberland advances to the South Division semifinals, where they will look to continue their dominant play. With their high-powered offense and deep lineup, the Stars will be a formidable opponent for any team standing in their way.

For Richmond Hill, their season comes to an end after battling through the play-in game to reach this series. Despite the loss, their effort, particularly in Game 2, was commendable.

What’s Next?

The Stars will face the fifth-seeded Tottenham Railers in the South Division semifinals. A full series preview will follow soon, breaking down the key matchups and storylines to watch as Northumberland continues its pursuit of a championship.