Domination

Article by I. Schoonderbeek/Media by R. Mansfield

On paper, the first-round series between the Clarington Eagles and North Kawartha Knights was a mismatch. After all, the Eagles had finished 59 points ahead of the Knights in the regular season standings.

The Knights did their best to hold on in the first period of game one against the Orr division leaders despite playing with a short bench, but their resistance could only last so long. The Eagles employed a solid, no-nonsense approach all evening, grinding on the forecheck and keeping pucks deep in the North Kawartha end.

The result was an 8-0 Clarington win. The Eagles’ performance was so dominant that they scored more goals than the Knights’ shots! Clarington outshot the North Kawartha 63-7 in the contest.

Captain Mitch Davies and regular season leading scorer Trevor Urquhart led the offense with three goals apiece. Adam Klaas and Joe Boice added single tallies to round out the scoring.

Oliver Webster picked up the shutout win with minimal work in the Clarington net.

The Eagles had the option of taking a first-round bye with their first-place regular season finish. But coach Dean Baumhauer and his crew opted to play the first-round series as they have done the past two seasons. “In Junior C hockey, two weeks of not playing where you don’t get a whole bunch of extra practice ice just isn’t beneficial. We have to play,” said Baumhauer.

“They’re (North Kawartha) in tough, obviously. We’re just trying not to get hurt, not to get suspended, and not to let too many bad habits get into our game. As a coaching staff, it’s our job to ensure that doesn’t happen. The biggest thing is to just make sure we get everyone feeling confident and get out of the series healthy. Hockey is a confidence game. Confidence makes you a better player.”

The play of Davies will be an important factor to the Eagles success this post-season. He demonstrated last season that he can elevate his game this time of year. He has also been riding a hot streak to close out the campaign, putting up 14 points in his final seven regular season games while continuing to play with an edge.

“Mitch Davies is playing some great hockey right now,” said Baumhauer. “(Kolby) Poulin has been doing a great job moving the puck. And we need Urquhart…He hadn’t scored in a while, so Urquhart getting three tonight and putting the smile back on his face is what we need. This round is about getting the guys feeling good about themselves.”

The Eagles plan to rotate Brock Mathieson, Liam O’Dette and Ethan Schoonderbeek back into the lineup on Saturday when they travel to Apsley to take on the Knights in game two. Game time for fans making the road trip is 7:25 pm.

Game three is back home at Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex Sunday March 3 at 7:25 pm.