Tag Archives: Smiths Falls Memorial Centre

Smiths Falls Bears claw back to eliminate Pembroke in OT thriller

Chris Uhlig photos.
LAURIE WEIR

The Smiths Falls Jr. A Bears staged a stunning third-period comeback and sealed the deal in overtime Sunday afternoon, knocking out the Pembroke Lumber Kings in the Central Canada Hockey League quarter-final series.

Facing elimination and roaring out of the gate, the Lumber Kings looked hungry in front of 736 fans at the PMC on March 30. Pembroke held a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes thanks to goals from Easton Penna and Jayson Alegria. They stretched that to 3-1 after two, with Alegria potting his second of the night and giving the Kings what looked like a comfortable cushion.

But the Bears weren’t ready to hibernate.

Smiths Falls flipped the script in the third. Davis Hails lit the spark before Kyle James tied it up, silencing the home crowd and sending the game to sudden death. Assists on the comeback came from Quinn Heins, Quinn Booth and Cameron O’Connell.

Then, in overtime, it was Booth who delivered the dagger, finishing a slick feed from Tyson Parker to cap off the series in dramatic fashion.

Xavier Tessier had the Bears’ lone goal in the first, and went on to be named one of the game’s three stars alongside Booth and Pembroke netminder Michael Modelski.

The Bears dominated the shot clock, outshooting the Lumber Kings 51-24. Ethan Morrow earned the W between the pipes, while Modelski took the hard-luck loss despite a strong performance.

In the other CCHL quarter-final matchup, the Brockville Braves evened their series 3-3 with the Navan Grads thanks to a 3–0 shutout win on March 30. That do-or-die Game 7 goes Tuesday night in Navan at 7:30 p.m.

Photos are from Friday, March 28th’s home game. See more photos and catch the recap here.

Smiths Falls Bears edge Pembroke 4–3, take series lead

Chris Uhlig photos.
LAURIE WEIR

The Smiths Falls Bears clawed out a 4–3 win over the Pembroke Lumber Kings on Friday night to take a 2–1 lead in their best-of-seven CCHL first-round playoff series.

Quinn Booth was the hero for the hometown Bears, potting the game-winner at 16:28 of the third period in front of 470 fans at the Smiths Falls Memorial Centre. Booth, who also opened the scoring in the first, finished the night with two goals. Both markers came off plays with linemates Tyson Parker and Travis Ouellette.

Pembroke’s Maverick Hayes replied with a pair of goals, including the first-period equalizer and a go-ahead tally early in the second to give the Kings a 2–1 edge.

That lead didn’t last long. Less than two minutes later, Chris Cardillo tied things up for Smiths Falls, banging one home off a feed from Kyle James at 1:30 of the middle frame. Jackson Heron put the Bears back in front before the second intermission, capitalizing on a turnover and scoring unassisted to make it 3–2.

Pembroke wasn’t done yet. Rowan Casey evened it up again midway through the third, converting a setup from Brody Simpson and Hayes at 15:30.

But just 58 seconds later, Booth struck again to seal it for Smiths Falls.

Ethan Morrow earned the win between the pipes for the Bears, turning aside 32 shots. Michael Modelski stopped 31 for the Lumber Kings in the loss.

Booth, Hayes and Ouellette were named the game’s three stars.

Game 6 is set for Sunday in Pembroke at 2 p.m., weather permitting.

Around the league:

The Brockville Braves pulled ahead 3–2 in their series against Navan after a wild 9–7 win Friday night.
The Carleton Place Canadians swept Kemptville 73’s in four straight.
Rockland Nationals also made quick work of Cornwall, ousting the Colts in four.

Smiths Falls Rideaus advance to EOSHL final

Photo credit: Screengrab [https://www.youtube.com/live/JWtTRA5ejhg].
LAURIE WEIR

The Smiths Falls Rideaus are heading to the Eastern Ontario Senior Hockey League (EOSHL) final after defeating the defending champion Gananoque Islanders 10-6 on Sunday, March 23, to clinch the best-of-five Lake Division final 3-1.

Smiths Falls will face the North Dundas Rockets in the championship series, which begins Saturday, March 29, at 2 p.m. in Chesterville. Game 2 is set for Sunday, March 30, at 4 p.m. in Smiths Falls.

Rideaus overwhelm Islanders in 10-6 win

Smiths Falls jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the first period with goals from Reid Russett, Eric Witzel and Ben Beasley on the power play. Chris Latimer responded for Gananoque.

The second period saw an offensive surge from both teams. The Rideaus extended their lead with goals from Tate Leeson, Brock Boisclair and Theo Todd, but Gananoque fought back with five goals of their own—Aidan Harris, Aaron Duggan, Mason Mangan (two) and Cole Busschaert—to even the game at 6-6.

Smiths Falls dominated the final frame, netting four unanswered goals to seal the series win. Brett Costello, Todd and Spenser Cobbold, with two, rounded out the scoring.

Rideaus edge Islanders in 4-3 battle

A day earlier, on Saturday, March 22, the Rideaus took a hard-fought 4-3 victory at home in front of 900 fans at the Smiths Falls Memorial Centre.

Smiths Falls opened a 2-0 lead after the first period with goals from Cobbold and Andrew McKenney.

Gananoque cut the deficit in the second with a goal from Kevin Domingue. The Islanders tied the game early in the third when Justynn Steven found the back of the net, but the Rideaus answered with two quick goals—Cobbold’s second of the night and a tally from Andrew Sprague—to restore their lead at 4-2.

Graeme Brown capitalized on a power play at 10:28 to bring the Islanders within one, but Smiths Falls goaltender Dallas Slack shut the door. The Rideaus held on to eliminate the defending champions and punch their ticket to the EOSHL final.