It perhaps got a little close for comfort, but the Georgian Bay Applekings held on to become the Ontario Elite Hockey League’s first “A” Champions.
The Applekings came out flying in Game 7 of their championship series against the Milverton 4 Wheel Drives on Sunday in Meaford.
By the end of the first period, the Applekings had a 4-0 lead, Milverton got one back in the second period, but a Georgian Bay power play goal by Neal Ross to complete the hat trick made it a 5-1 Georgian Bay lead heading into the third period.
Full credit to the Milverton squad, fighting back in the third period to make it a nail biter. Mike Vitelli, Colton Quipp and Mitch Boertien all scored within a span of 58-seconds to put Milverton within one goal with more than half the third period still to play.
The Applekings may have bent, but they didn’t break, adding two insurance markers in the final four minutes to secure a 7-5 victory, capturing the Hugh McLean Trophy on “home” ice as OHA Sr. “A” Champions in their inaugural season.
Meanwhile, the Minto 81’s have taken control of the OEHL Cup Final, taking two over the Tavistock Royals to open the series.
Marc Williams made 44 saves on Saturday in Game 1 to preserve a 3-1 Minto victory on the road to open the series.
Less than 24 hours later, it was a much higher scoring affair in Palmerston, with Minto’s Adam Kawalec and Jordan Delaurier each recording three points to pace the 81’s to a 6-5 victory, putting Minto within two wins of the OHA Sr. “AA” Championship.
The series resumes over the long weekend, with Game 3 going on Good Friday in Palmerston at 6:30 p.m.
Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday March 30th in Tavistock at 7:30 p.m.
For full playoff information, including scores and schedules, click here.
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