RUSSELL CUP UPDATE - 3 OF 4 SEMI'S NOW SET!

 

March 7, 2011

GMHL SEMI-FINALS SET - ALMOST!

Brooms were the order of the day in the GMHL playoffs Sunday, as three of four Quarter-final series were swept in 3 straight games, leaving only Jamestown and Toronto still battling for the final Semi-Final berth.

The first place Bobcats had a relatively easy time with Powassan, taking out the Dragons by scores of 9-2, 16-2 and 5-2.  The result was not unexpected, considering the loss of several quality players from the Dragons roster in the last month of the season.  The Dragons, to their credit, never quit, as the final score of game three would indicate, the 5-2 score being the tightest match of the series.

South Muskoka were heavy favourites against Oro-Medonte, but they had their hands full with the recently surging 77's.  Shield wins by scores of 6-4 and 5-3 were indicative of Oro's improved play, though in the end, South Muskoka showed their superiority with a decisive 10-4 win to close out the series.

Bradford and Deseronto had a similar experience, with two close games, followed by an emphatic 11-2 whitewash by the Rattlers to close out the Storm in 3 straight.  Both teams had been playing stronger toward the end of the season, and though Bradford placed higher in the standings, this series was expected to be close as well.  That was the case in games 1 and 2, with the Rattlers winning by scores of 6-3 and 5-4, before completing the sweep on Sunday.

Though Jamestown finished 3rd overall, results in the 6 games against Toronto this season seemed to indicate this Best of Five series could go the distance, and it has turned out to be the only series that will require additional games.  Toronto went to Jamestown for Games 1 & 2 and came away with split every team visiting team hopes for.  Toronto gave up a late PP goal in game 1 to give the Jets the tie, before coming away with the victory early in OT.  Game 2 started out much the same way, but a Jamestown surge in the second period, including a SH goal, put the Jets up 3-1, en route to penalty filled 6-1 victory, and 1-1 tie in the series.  Games 3 & 4 take place Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon in Thornhill, with game 5 in Jamestown on Thursday, if necessary.

NEWS AND NOTES:

With the re-seeding of teams each round, the Semi-Final match-up won't be decided until the completion of the Jets and Moose series.  If the Jets win, Elliot Lake would face Bradford and South Muskoka would face the Jets.  If the Moose win, Elliot Lake would take on Toronto, while South Muskoka would get a rematch of last year's semi finals against Bradford.