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Hornets leading 3-1 in semi-final series with Stayner

March 31, 2022   ·   0 Comments

The Allison Hornets are leading 3-1 in their best of seven semi-final series against the Stayner Siskins after losing Game Four on home ice in Alliston on Monday, March 28.

Hornets fans were hoping the Alliston team could wrap up the series in a sweep when they skated onto the ice for Game Four, but the Hornets were out-shot and outplayed by the Siskins.

The Hornets won the first three games after giving a solid effort every time on the ice.

The Siskins have proven to be a highly skilled team and the series was expected to be a real battle, but the Alliston squad brought their best to the first three outings.

The series got underway on Thursday, March 24, on Stayner home ice and ended with a 3-2 overtime win for the Hornets.

Game Two of the series took place the following night in Alliston. That game saw the Hornets leading 3-1 going in the final period. Stayner closed the gap with a third period goal, but the Alliston team finished it off with an empty netter for the 4-2 win.

Game Three of the series was back in Stayner for an afternoon game on Sunday, March 27.

The Hornets managed to shut-out the Siskins for a 3-0 win to put all the pressure on Stayner to keep the series alive with a win in Game Four.

“It’s a good series, they’re a really good team, we’re playing our best of hockey of the year,” said Hornets coach Travis Chapman after the second game of the series. “It’s fun, and it’s entertaining. I think last night (Game One) we did a better job of dictating the pace of the game. Tonight, they did a good job in the third period. We knew we were going to get their best game tonight and they gave it to us. Tonight was more of a back-and-forth game, and there was a lot more penalties tonight. It felt like we were on the penalty kill a lot tonight. It’s a credit to our penalty kill guys – we killed off every penalty we had.”

Alliston goalie Rod Lewis had an outstanding night in the net.

“When we started the year, we kind of had the unknowns in net,” Chapman said. “Rod hadn’t played junior before and Mac (goalie Curtis McMillian) hadn’t played junior before. You have to hope one of them is going to take the reins and Rod’s really had a year where he’s progressed; every month he’s gotten better and better. Now there’s just so much confidence he has in his game and that the guys have in him, that he’s going to get the job done.”

Game Four of the series saw the Siskins take a two goal lead in the first period.

Alliston forward Ben Taylor scored a 3:29 into the second period to close the gap.

The Siskins scored twice in the third to take a 4-1 win.

The teams will be back on the ice on Thursday, March 31, in Stayner for Game Five.

If necessary, Game Six will be in Alliston on Friday, April 1, with a 7:30 p.m. start.

Game Seven is schedule to be in Stayner on Sunday, April 3, with a 1:30 p.m. start.

In the other North Carruthers Division semi-final, Orillia was leading Schomberg 3-1 as of the weekend.

By Brian Lockhart
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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