Ward's Auto novices edge Port Colborne in Game 1
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Tillsonburg Ward’s Auto novices didn’t play their best game in the OMHA BB semifinal opener Saturday evening against Port Colborne, said Tornadoes coach Trevor Lamb.
“They (Port Colborne) are a really good team. Really good on the defence – some really good skaters back there. We didn’t really score on the chances we had. We had a lot of chances especially early in the game.
“That sort of gave them some momentum.”
Tillsonburg scored late in Saturday’s game to win 2-1.
Port Colborne and Tillsonburg have met three other times this season. The Tornadoes beat Port in the Regional Silver Stick finals, and beat them twice in the Caledonia tournament, including the final.
“They’re a really good team and we have to be at our best if we’re going to continue on.”
The semifinal continues Saturday, March 2 in Port Colborne, then back in Tillsonburg Sunday, March 3 (4:30 p.m.).
“It’ll be tough… two tough games,” said Lamb.
Tillsonburg had cruised past Glanbrook in the OMHA BB quarter-finals winning 12-2 and 9-1 before sweeping the six-point series with a 4-1 win on Feb. 19 in Glanbrook.
“We scored a lot of goals… played some really good hockey – we were clicking.”
Southern Counties A Playoffs
On Sunday, the Ward’s Auto novices were back on home ice for a Southern Counties minor hockey playoff game against arch-rival Ingersoll.
“This was Game No. 3 for Southern Counties playoffs,” said Lamb, noting they were playing an eight-game round-robin in the A Division.
Tillsonburg had won their first two Southern Counties playoff games, beating Paris and Delhi, before tying Ingersoll 3-3 at the Kinsmen Memorial Arena.
“We’ve had some really good competition with them this year. It’s been our best competition in league play. They always play us hard and we play them hard.”
The Ward’s Auto novices have the season advantage with a 6-2-3 record.
“I think we’ve beat them six games, maybe, and they beat us twice, with three ties. It’s been pretty even – they’re a really good team.”
Both Tillsonburg and Ingersoll won 2013 International Silver Stick championships – Ingersoll at B and Tillsonburg in the A Division.
“We were a little sluggish today,” admitted Lamb. “It was our third game in four days, fourth game in six days. We’ve been playing a lot of hockey right now.”
They made it five in seven on Monday with another Southern Counties game.
“We had to go to Glanbrook twice mid-week, and that takes a lot out of the kids at this level.”
Tillsonburg Ward’s Auto 3, Ingersoll 3
Tillsonburg scoring: 1. Beau Jelsma (Elijah Newson); 2. Brandon Homick (Hayden McLean, Travis Lamb); 3. Liam Hicks (Michel Laundrie, Beau Jelsma).