Trojans end Dolphins' season again

THAMESFORD, Ont. - Only one team has prevented the Dorchester Dolphins from advancing to the division final.

For the second consecutive post season, the Thamesford Trojans have eliminated the Dolphins.

Jared Caldarozzi scored with 79 seconds left in the third period, lifting the Trojans over the Dorchester Dolphins, 3-2, Saturday, taking the PJHL Yeck Division quarterfinal, four games two.

Two years ago, the Trojans ousted the Dolphins in the semifinals, ending a streak of seven consecutive trips to the division final.

"It's a tough pill to swallow for sure," Dolphins' captain Braidon Duncan said. "They're a great hockey team over there. They showed it. They jumped on us when we were down. It could have went either way. They had their bounces, we had ours. We had our chances, but they won."

Thamesford held leads of 1-0 and 2-1, on goals by Janson Holcombe and Kyle Pizzey.

Josh Short had both Dorchester goals, twice tying the game on the power play.

"It's tough to put into words," said Ryan Poley. "They brought some power and dug hard. We fell back that third game and gave them the power for the fourth one."

Poley was an AP player the last time the Dolphins won the division title, in 2017, following a 39-0-1 season. Then the Dolphins lost back to back finals to Lambeth in 2018 and Exeter, in 2019.

Not the end either Duncan and Poley envisioned for their final season, both 21-year old veterans.

"I grew up playing hockey with the Dragons, transferred over to the Dolphins. It's great playing in front of your hometown crowd," Poley said. "My first year was one to remember and my last. My first was special. We made a good run that year. The year we went 39-0-1 I was a AP. I was fortunate to be part of that."

Duncan described playing in Dorchester a honour.

"I make memories every time I show up at the rink," Duncan said. "Every practice, game, I'm making memories. There's too many to count. It's always been fun."

Dylan Van Dusen and Noah Small, both from Dorchester, also played their final games with the Dolphins.

Short led the Dolphins in playoff scoring with five goals and two assists. Jakob Marche had two goals and two assists.

Thamesford moves on to play Exeter in a semifinal, a rematch of the 2020 final that was cancelled, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

North Middlesex faces Mt. Brydges in the other semifinal.