Sports

Alliston Hornets trail 2-1 in the championship series against Orillia Terriers

March 27, 2025   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The championship series for the North Carruthers Division title of the Provincial Junior Hockey League is underway, and playoff fever is sweeping the region as the Alliston Hornets battle the Orillia Terriers to see who will bring home the 2025 Division title.

Game One of the best-of-seven championship series got underway at the New Tecumseth Recreation Centre in Alliston on Friday, March 21, in front of a near-capacity crowd.

With two highly talented teams in the final series, fans are being treated to some really good hockey.

However, Game One was a disappointment for the Alliston fans when the Hornets couldn’t find the back of the Terriers’ net. They managed only 33 shots on goal for the night and took a 3-0 loss.

“We got off to a slow start, and they were ready to play early,” said Hornets’ forward Cole Turcotte, after the game. “We just couldn’t find the back of the net and that kept with us for the whole game. We got to pick it up and get guys in front of the net and screen the goalie and squeeze one in. Next game we’ll get everyone prepared and have a good warm-up. We’ll come back better than we did today.”

It was a rough game with a few incidents of pushing and shoving after the whistle. 

“It’s tough when you’re not scoring,” Turcotte said. “Everyone gets a little chippy.”

It was a different outcome the following night when the Hornets travelled to Penetang on Saturday, March 22, for Game Two.

Aiden Landers got the opening goal for the Hornets early in the first period.

Orillia tied it up two minutes later.

Alliston took the lead when Jaeden French scored 59 seconds into the second period.

The game was again tied when the Terriers scored 46 seconds into the final period.

Just when fans thought the game was going into overtime, Marck Coish scored with 2:41 remaining in the final period to give the Hornets a 3-2 win. The series was then tied at one game each.

Game Three of the series got underway in Alliston on Monday, March 24.

It was another well-played game.

The Terriers scored the only goals in the first and second periods to make it a 2-0 game.

Alliston got on the scoreboard early in the third frame on a goal from David Harvey. A second Hornets marker from Cole Turcotte tied it up at 2-2 just two minutes later.

The Hornets fell behind when Orillia scored midway in the period and followed up with an empty netter with 27 seconds left on the clock. Orillia won 4-2 and now leads the series 2-1. 

The series was back in Orillia for Game Four on Wednesday, March 26, with results not available at press time.

The teams will return to Alliston for Game Five on Friday, March 28.

Game time is 7:30 p.m.

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