CALEDONIA — The Caledonia Pro-Fit Corvairs were one win away from sweeping the Elmira Sugar Kings Tuesday night in a game that will miss our deadline. That, after taking Game 3, 4-1 Monday night at the Haldimand Centre Arena. Jesse Barwell scored twice for the Corvairs with single goals scored by Sean O’Brien and Andrew Burns. Brandon McCorrison earned the Caledonia win in goal.
Last week, Caledonia Pro-Fit Corvairs’ general manager Brian Rizzetto predicted a harder series against the Elmira Sugar Kings than his team has seen to date in their run to restore the Sutherland Cup to what he has come to believe is its rightful home. But it’s not certain that he knew exactly how much tougher it was going to be.
Ahead 2-0 in the series, Game 3 and Game 4 had to be postponed due to the ice storm Saturday and Sunday, especially in light of the Humboldt tragedy.
Thursday Game 2 of the series produced the Caledonia Corvairs’ second OT win in as many nights, this time 7-6, in double OT.
The Kings were at home and had the crowd behind them which helped energize them, but it also served to rev up the Corvairs.
Owen Lane opened and closed the show for Caledonia scoring at 9:15 of the first, and at 7:43 of the second OT period to give the Corvairs a 2-0 series lead.
Caledonia led 3-2 after 20 minutes and 5-4 at the end of the second. Elmira surprised the Corvairs 26 seconds into the third period to even the score again, Then, at 13:21, Zach Cameron put the Kings ahead and the Corvairs on their heals.
Griffin Roubos scored the goal that sent the game to OT at 16:58 set up by Eddie Schulz.
The first OT period offered lots of chances at both ends but no scoring. But on the second try, Lane stopped the show from Adam Craievich and Jesse Barwell for the Corvairs 7-6 win and 2-0 series lead.
Last Wednesday’s Game 1 proved Rizzetto right with overtime required to determine a 5-4 winner after a see-saw battle at the Haldimand Centre over the Elmira Sugar Kings in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey semi-final series.
The Corvairs threw everything but the skate sharpener at the King’s goal in the first period, outshooting Elmira 17-7, but the only goal on the scoreboard belonged to the visitors … that is, until Owen Lane countered for Caledonia with 29 seconds remaining in the period.
Adam Craievich gave Caledonia a 2-1 lead and Owen Lane added his second of the night to put what Caledonia hoped to be the cushion under their lead, but a miscue handed Elmira a shorthanded goal, unassisted goal, and a late period powerplaygoal evened the score at 3-3 after 40 minutes.
Craievich netted his second of the game at 9:42 to break the tie but at 17:34, Brody Waters sent the game into OT, set up by Damian Figueira.
Griffin Roubos played the hero with his second goal of the playoffs and first of the series, scored at 17:38 of the extra period to eek out the Game 1 win.
Kings goalie Rhett Kimmel, faced 56 shots in all.
