Stars scratch seven year playoff itch

  Advance to GOJHL second round for first time since 2011 by eliminating Sarnia

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

  

By Rob J. Ross 

ST. THOMAS - For the first time since 2011, the St. Thomas Stars will play hockey after March Break.

The Stars advanced to the second round of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League playoffs, defeating the Sarnia Legionnaires in five games.

It was a minor upset as the fifth place Stars finished one spot below the Legionnaires, in the Western Conference standings.

St. Thomas now faces the Leamington Flyers who finished in second place and swept Komoka in the first round.

Game one is Thursday at Leamington. Game two goes Friday at the Timken Centre.

(St. Thomas - Leamington Schedule)

"The one main thing that won the series was our power play. It scored every game. Even in the loss we scored power play goals," Stars' head coach Darren Kelly said. "We only allowed four power play goals in the five games, which is pretty good considering Sarnia's power play was clicking over 20 per cent going in to the playoffs."

Eight of the Stars' 20 goals in the series arrived with the man advantage.

St. Thomas won the first two games and Sarnia grabbed game three. The Stars went up 3-1, taking game four at the Timken Centre before eliminating the Legionnaires on their home ice.

"Our team didn't back down from the nastiness that went on. We kept our composure and we still maintained our presence out there," said Kelly. "It was making sure we maintain a level head and stay out of the penalty box."

Adam Keyes (six goals) and Peter Fleming (five goals) led the Stars offensively, with 11 points each, while Brett Fisher had nine points.

Kelly used both goaltenders in the series. Jesse Hodgson was between the pipes for games one and two. Anthony Hurtubise replaced Hodgson, in games three and four, before starting game five.

"We gave them a 3-0 lead early in game three, 2-0 in the first 30 seconds. I didn't pull Jesse until after the fourth goal," recalled Kelly, in a game the Stars only ended up losing, 4-3. "We can win with both goaltenders. For me, it was a gut feel to go with Jesse to start the series. I'm not afraid to use either for the next round. Both goalies have played well against Leamington."

Game five tested the Stars' resiliency.

"We let them (Sarnia) score in the first 20 seconds. I kept the same line out there. I expected a stronger second half of their shift. The puck drops and we tied it up about 15 seconds later. It settled the kids down."

Winning the series not only lifts the Stars over a seven year hurdle of first round exits, but strengthens confidence within the team.

"For a lot of them, it's their first junior playoff win. They get that monkey off their back. Now they're confident and can understand they can win as long as they play with the game plan in hand. There's a sense a belief," said Kelly.

Defenceman Ryan Bangs and forward Kyle Fisher will be available next round. Both missed the Sarnia series.

Leamington won the six game season series with three wins, one in overtime. The teams skated to a tie twice, including their last meeting.

In those six games, Kevin Hu led the Stars with four goals and six assists, while Keyes had five goals and four assists.

Leading the Flyers was Griffin Robinson (6G, 2A) and Maddux Rychel (2G, 6A). Robinson has seven points in the playoffs. 

Back in 2011, the Stars won the Western Conference title, winning 12 games and losing just four, all in overtime. They would place third at the Sutherland Cup, won by Elmira.

Then for the next six years, the Stars only won nine games combined in the first round.