RUSSELL CUP PLAYOFFS UNDERWAY!

February 26, 2011

 

RUSSELL CUP PLAYOFFS UNDERWAY - VAUGHAN LOSES BIG IN TORONTO AND BUCKS FALL VICTIM TO DEFENDING CHAMPION STORM

The Russell Cup Playoffs got underway this week and claimed its first two victims.

This past Wednesday afternoon, things got started with the Vaughan Wild visiting their cross-town rivals, the Toronto Moose, and in penalty-filled affair, Toronto came away with a convincing 9-1 victory.  The win maintains Toronto's 6th place standing in the South, and sets up a date with the Shelburne Red Wings, beginning tonight in Thornhill.  Captain Gianmarco Aiello and Nick Demarchi led the way with 2 goals each, and goaltender Pat Cormack was stellar when he had to be, making 25 saves in the win.

In the other South Division series, the defending Champion Deseronto Storm began their playoff run with 2 close victories over Bobcaygeon to eliminate the Bucks, and move the Storm onto the Quarter-Finals against either Jamestown or Bradford, pending the result of the Shelburne-Toronto series.

In game 1, a 4-2 Storm win in Bobcaygeon, the teams fired almost 100 shots against goaltenders Andrew Selbie for the Bucks and Pavlo Stepanenko for the Storm, but Stepanenko came out one goal better.  An empty netter sealed the win, and Andrew Bobas led the way for the Storm with a goal and 2 assists.

Game 2 was just as close, with the Storm's Bobas once again coming out the hero, scoring 3 times including the winner with less than 5 minutes to play, giving the Storm the 4-3 win.

In the North, the Powassan Dragons surprised many with a convincing 6-2 win Wednesday night over Sturgeon Falls, surprising because of their recent hard times late in the season.  Jared Knott made 38 saves for the win, and Anthony Trozzo led the Dragons on offense with 2 goals and 2 assists.  It was a different story last night as the 'Jacks Michael James stopped 26 of 27 shots while Theoren Commanda led the way offensively with 2 goals and 1 assist.  The series is now tied at 1 game each, with game 3 slated to decide the series Sunday night in Powassan.

In the other Northern series, Algoma took on the red-hot Oro-Medonte 77's in Thessalon, and the 77's continued their strong play, coming away with a 6-2 win.  The series continues in Oro Sunday night, with game 3 Monday if necessary.