With their third place finish in the Upper Canada Minor Hockey League East Division’s regular season, the South Dundas “Pizza Hut” Novice B Lions start playoff action this week against their county rival North Dundas Demons.
The Lions drew the eighth place Demons in an opening round best two out of three.
The Lions come into the playoffs losing back to back games for the first time since October as the East Division Brockville #2 Braves downed the Lions 2-1 and the Demons nipped them 4-3 last week in their regular season finale.
The Lions jumped out to an early lead on the Demons when Ben Lapier took the opening faceoff down the ice and scored on a backhand shot into the bottom of the net.
Later in the first Lapier struck again to give the Lions a 2-0 lead with help from Kolby Latulippe and Nolan Henry.
Joshua Broad sent Kayne McCadden away on a breakaway as the Lions looked for the three goal lead but McCadden’s shot rang off the cross bar out of play.
The Demons got on the board early in the second on a power-play goal by Heuff assisted by Adam Barkley. They tied the game with 13 seconds left in the second on a goal by Bowman assisted by Heuff.
The Demons struck again early in the third to grab their first lead of the game before Kolby Latulippe tied it 3-3.
The Lions battled for the go ahead goal but gave up the game winning goal with two minutes which secured the 4-3 Demons’ victory.
In their other action, the Brockville Braves came to town and jumped on the Lions early.
Braves forward Rhys Gibbons scored his 100th goal of the season as he scored on back to back shifts giving the Braves an early 2-0 lead.
Ben Lapier cut the lead to one when he bounced a shot off the goalie and into the net early in the second period. Cassidy Bilmer and Kayne McCadden picked up assists on the play.
The Lions pressured the Braves but did not get the equalizer.
Even with goaltender Brendan Shaver on the bench for an extra attacker, the Lions couldn’t muster a last minute shot in an attempt to tie the game.
The South Dundas “Pizza Hut” Novice B Lions were in playoff action Monday night in Chesterville for Game #1 and Tuesday night in Morrisburg for Game #2.
If necessary Game #3 will be in Morrisburg on Tuesday, February 21st at 7 p.m.
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