The McLean and Dickey Orillia Terriers completed their regular season with a busy stretch of five games over six days.
While the local squad was unable to beat the province's top-rated Alliston Hornets, Orillia easily defeated Midland, Penetang and Muskoka en route to finishing their Provincial Junior Hockey League season with an impressive 35-6-1 record.
That is the best result for Orillia in its Jr. C history. But it wasn't quite good enough to secure top spot as Alliston finished the season with an incredible 40-0-2 record. However, the Terriers finished second in the North Carruthers Division, 12 points ahead of rival Stayner.
The Terriers opened their final stretch of games, losing a hard fought 6-4 game in Alliston last Wednesday. Scoring for the Dogs were Finn Price, Kaiden Robitaille, and Devon Edmonds, with two goals. Nathan Hunter took the loss in net.
On Friday in Midland, the visiting Terriers dominated, winning 6-0. Scoring for the Terriers were Jordan Fuller, with two, while Caleb Tiffin-Seminara, Hunter Burgess and Dylan Palomaki added single markers. Hunter earned the shutout between the pipes.
On Saturday, the Terriers lost another close battle with Alliston, dropping a 5-2 decision. Fuller and Dante Cagliari scored in the first period with the period ending with the score tied 2-2.
In the second, Alliston would get the only goal of the period to lead 3-2 after two. Alliston would get a late goal to go up 4-2 and an empty netter to seal the win. Newcomer Reid Thomas was in net and kept the Dogs within striking range, stopping 42 shots
On Sunday against Penetang, the Terriers skated to a 5-3 victory. The visitors jumped out to 3-1 lead after the first period on goals by Edmonds, Liam Norman and Palomaki. In the second, Palomaki netted his second to give the Terriers a 4-1 lead, but a late goal by Penetang cut the lead to two.
In the third, Cugliari would score before a last-minute goal by Penetang would make the final 5-3 for the Terriers.
Monday afternoon would see the Terriers dominate a-short handed Muskoka squad 11-0 in a Family Day contest at Orillia's Rotary Place.
Fuller and Cam Chalut, with his first goals of the season, led the way with two-goal efforts. Palomaki, Price, Josh Presley, Marcus Petroff, Aiden Randell, Lleyton McLean and Tiffin-Seminara rounded out the scoring. Hunter picked up the shutout to tie for the league lead in shutouts.
Fuller, with five points, won the league scoring title with 114 points — 48 goals 66 assists — during the regular season.
It was "overagers night" as Palomaki, Fuller, Ty Kelly, Edmonds and Presley were all presented with their jerseys before the game. As luck would have it they all got points in the game.
The Terriers will play Midland in a best-of-seven first round of the playoffs. Midland finished seventh in the North Carruthers Division with a 9-31-2 record — 51 points behind the Terriers.
Here's the schedule:
- Game 1: Friday in Midland at 7:30 p.m.
- Game 2: Saturday, Feb. 22 in Orillia at 7:30 p.m.
- Game 3: Tuesday, Feb. 25 in Midland at 8:30 p.m.
- Game 4: Saturday, March 1 in Orillia at 7: 30 p.m.
- Game 5: Sunday, March 2 in Midland at 7:30 p.m. (if necessary)
- Game 6: Monday, March 3 in Orillia at 8:30 p.m. (if necessary)
- Game 7: Tuesday, March 4 in Orillia at 8:30 p.m. (if necessary)