CALEDONIA – The GOJHL has released its playoff schedules for the Conference semi-finals, which for the Caledonia Pro-Fit Corvairs and the Niagara Falls Canucks begins Wednesday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Haldimand Centre Arena in downtown Caledonia.
The series goes to Niagara Falls Friday night for Game #2 of the best of seven, before returning to Caledonia for Game #3 Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. with Game #4, if necessary, set for Tuesday night in Niagara. Game #5 is an 8 p.m. start at the Haldimand Arena with Game #6 and if a Game #7 is required, it will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Caledonia.
Round #1 of the 2016 race for the Sutherland Cup was little more than a public skate against the Pelham Panthers whom they easily swept in four straight games.
This time, they will be breaking a sweat, according to Corvairs general manager Brian Rizzetto.
“We’re going to have all we can handle against Niagara,” he told Two Row Times. “But we’re going to have to be more disciplined.”
Even against the Panthers there were far too many unwise penalties and Rizzetto knows that against a team with more skills to bring to James Hillier Public School the table than the Panthers, unnecessary time in the penalty box has real potential to jump up and bite them.
“Special teams are going to be very important as we go forward,” he says. “Our powerplay has been hit and miss.”
Fortunately, the Corvairs penalty kill unit have been holding their own but could still stand some improvement.
The Canucks recorded a very acceptable 26 wins, 20 losses, two single point regulation time ties and two overtime losses.
Corey Pawley leads the league in playoff points so far with four goals and 13 assists in four games. Goalie Mark Sinclair tops the goaltenders in the playoffs so far with one goal against in three starts against Pelham.
