Bantam B Lions end winless streak

 

The Seaway District High School junior and senior girls teams left their names on the Eastern Ontario Volleyball maps last week, when both worked their way to the championship finals where they collected silver medals following losses to some very tough opposition.

The Senior Spartans hosted their event last Thursday, February 23, while the EOSSAA junior championships were at North Grenville on Wednesday, February 22.

In their opening round robin game against Renfrew, the Junior Spartans lost the opening set 25-17. They rebounded with back to back, 25-15 and 15-5 set wins.

They had a fairly easy time of it in game two against Almonte (25-9 and 25-15 wins) and in the semi-final against North Grenville (25-10 and 25-11 wins).

That set the stage for the championship final against the very tough Plantagenet entry who claimed victory with two straight wins by 25-12 and 25-18 scores.

“They were a really strong club, but the girls were able to keep it close,” said coach Lindsay Waddell who was pleased with her Spartans’ silver medal finish. The girls played really well. We were simply out-matched in the final.”

“I am extremely happy with our season. I think the right team won in the end, but we played well.”

In senior action on the Iroquois courts Thursday, the Spartans and the Embrun Panthers charged through their round robin action. Neither lost a set as they worked their way to the final.

Seaway, in pool B, defeated Almonte (25-2 and 25-18) and Gananoque (25-2 and 25-9) and eliminated  Opeongo in the semi-final (25-12 and 25-18).

Embrun in pool A defeated Sharbot Lake (25-12 and 25-12), Opeongo (25-11 and 25-15) and Almonte in their semi-final (25-15 and 25-5).

The Senior Spartans knew they were up against some tough competition from the Panthers who were last year’s OFSSA champions and who had seven returning players this year, five of whom were starters. Five of their players are also club players who play pretty much year round. 

“I knew going into the finals that we faced stiff competition,” said coach Lilace McIntyre. “My squad has nine very dedicated players, but only one plays club. This makes a huge difference because club players typically play 10 months a year and have so many more hours of experience on the court.”

“My girls played a good first set (lost 25-17) but seemed to fall apart in the second (lost 25-12).”

While junior volleyball play ends at EOSSAA, the Senior Spartans (and Embrun) advance to OFSSA at Ryerson Univeristy in Toronto from March 4-7.

McIntyre is extremely pleased and proud to be taking her Spartans to the provincial championship

[…]

With the end of the regular season now just a few weeks away, the Morrisburg Junior B Lions continue to entertain one of the longest losing streaks in team history.

This past weekend a pair of losses to the Prescott Flyers, 4-1 and the Gananoque Islanders, 4-2 brought their St. Lawrence Division stats to 27 losses in 30 games.

Friday night on home ice, the Lions managed just one goal against the visiting Prescott Flyers.

Drew Veenstra got that one on the Lions power play, with help from Chris Pearson and Michael Paquette, at 13:18 of the first period.

The 1-0 Lions advantage lasted until well into the second period, when the Flyers Patrick Rock evened it at 14:18 and Andrew DeKroom gave them a 2-1 lead at 15:41.

Early in the third, the Flyers went up 4-1 on goals by Ryan Romans and Trevor Kelecher.

Jarerett Pitt was in the Flyers net for the win, and John Gilmer handled the Lions loss. Pitt handled just 23 shots on net while Gilmer gave up four goals on 36 shots.

The Lions sat out seven minor penalties, while the Flyers were assessed  eight and a 10 minute misconduct for checking to the head.

Sunday night in Gananoque, the Islanders were first on the scoreboard with a Matt Tustin goal. 

In the last minute of the first period Liam Morrow, with help from A.J. Jarvis, counted for the Lions to even it.

The Islanders took charge in the second period with two unanswered counters, and went up 4-1 at 9:28 of the third.

Steven Savage scored on the Lions power play at 17:17 of the third to cut the gap to 4-2, but that was it.

Cole Blanchard and Drew Veenstra got the assists on the Savage goal.

Ryan Kaszuba was in net for the Islanders win, and John Gilmer handled the loss. Shots on net were 35 for the Islanders and 31 for the Lions.

The Lions were assessed eight minor penalties, a five minute fighting major and a game misconduct for checking from behind.

The Islanders sat out 12 minors, two five minute fighting majors, and a 10 minute misconduct.

Coming up this Friday night, January 10 the Lions are on the road to Westport. Sunday, January 12 they host the Char-Lan Rebels. 

[…]

The South Dundas Midget B Rep Lions winning streak ended at 13 games here Friday night, December 17 when the South Grenville Rangers put together a last-second goal for a 1-0 win.

Josh Martineau was in net for the Lions in a game that was very evenly played and remained scoreless throughout the first and second periods.

Late in the third period, with the score tied 0-0, just 6.1 seconds left in the game and the Lions on the power play with a face-off in their end, Prescott pulled their goaltender in a last chance effort to earn the win.

The Lions lost the draw, which resulted with a South Grenville defenceman slap shot that beat Martineau with .3 seconds left on the clock and the Rangers claimed a 1-0 win to end the Lions winning streak at 13 games.

On Thursday, December 12, on home ice, the Lions for the first time this season defeated Cornwall, 6-4.

After the Lions went up 3-0, Cornwall got one past Lions goaltender Zach Frawley to end the first period 3-1.

Then early in the second, Cornwall charged back to count two in a row to even it at 3-3.

The Lions regrouped and got it going with a Toby Mullin goal from Tanner Hummel at 5:05. Thirty-one seconds later, Nick Lalonde, with help from David Plamondon, made it 5-3.

The visitors got one more to finish the second period behind 5-4.

Aaron Smith (from Trey Suddard) pushed the Lions lead to 6-4, less than one minute into the third period and Frawley was unbeatable in the Lions net for the remainder of the game to hold on to the win.

Coming up the South Dundas Midget Lions will compete in the Ottawa Bell Sensplex tournament, January 3-5. League play resumes Thursday, January 9 in Morrisburg at 8 p.m.

[…]