The NCHL Division finals opened up last weekend with four games on the schedule.
In the North Division, the Devon Barons took a 2-0 lead over the Bonnyville Pontiacs, taking both ends of a home and home series. In the opener on Saturday in Bonnyville, the Pontiacs took an first period lead only to have the Barons outscore them 6-1 over the final two periods to take game #1 7-3 to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Baron's rookie forward Chris Van Os Shaw led the way with 2-2-4 and veteran Cody Issler added 1-3-4 to pace the Baron's attack. Brody Beaulieu, Eric Deleeuw, Aric Schinke 1-1-2 and Jarrett Toll 1-1-2 completed the scoring for the Barons who were outshot 40-33. Mike Gudmanson picked up the win as he turned away 37 shots. Replyng for the Pontiacs were Jamahl Eakett, Denis Cadrin and Scott Thackeray, while Drew Fleury took the loss in net. Both teams went 0 for 3 on the power play.
Chris Van Os Shaw - big weekend 4-3-7
On Sunday, the teams met again this time in Devon for game #2, which the Barons won 5-3. This game was close as the teams played to a 1-1 first period tie, and the Barons took a 3-2 lead into the third period. Once again, Chris Van Os Shaw 2-1-3 (1 on the PP and 1 SH) led the way, with Dayton Heino 1-1-2 (1 on the PP), Devon Winczura and Trevor Posch also scoring. Jordan Cooke picked up the win turning away 41 of 44 Pontiac's shots. Replying for the Pontiacs were defenseman Kona Jackson 1-1-2, Coltan Buchta 1-1-2 (1 on the PP) and Jamahl Eakett. Ryan Weitzel took the loss. Devon went 2-5 and Bonnyville went 1 for 8 on the power play and the Barons scored 1 short handed goal.
With the two wins, Devon takes a 2-0 lead into this weekend's games - Saturday in Devon (8:00), and Sunday in Bonnyville (5:30).
In the South Division, the Lacombe Generals got the early 1-0 series lead with a 5-2 win in Penhold on Saturday. The Generals posted 2-1 and 3-2 period leads and scored twice into an empty net to secure the win. Scoring for the Generals were Bryce Wilson 1-1-2 (1 on the. power play), captain Cam Maclise 1-2-3, Craig Gans 1-1-2 (1 on the power play), Troy Maclise and veteran Colin Zimmer, while Mac Engel was outstanding stopping all but 2 of the 37 shots the Rustlers sent his way. Ryan Vandervlis (on the power play) and Zach Evans-Renaud scored for the Rustlers, and Brodan Salmond took the loss.
In the return match on Sunday in Penhold, the Rustlers picked their game up a notch and goaltender Brodan Salmond picked up his first playoff shut out stopping all 34 Lacombe shots in the Rustler's 3-0 win. Tyler Berkholtz, Zach Evans-Renaud, and Keegan Kingwell scored for the Rustlers who went 0 for 4 on the powerplay. Lacombe's powerplay, the best in the league all season and so far in the playoffs, went 0 for 8 on this night.
Brodan Salmond - shut out in game #2
The series switches to Lacombe for the next two games this weekend, Saturday 8:30 and Sunday 5:00. The 5th game is scheduled for Penhold on Wednesday, March 6th at 8:15.
