FEBRUARY 7 – Hello Hockey Fans and welcome to the 44th edition of the GOJHL Preview. This week we’ve got six games which are guaranteed to spark your interest.

With the post season fast approaching, teams are starting to build momentum and make a last minute push to the finish to either move up in their respective conference’s or to make the playoffs. This season is going to come right down to the wire so you can expect some serious upsets the closer we get to the finish line.

Over the past weekend there were some excellent games that took place which featured some pretty intense upsets. Three of these we’ve decided to highlight and for your benefit, we’ll try to keep you up to speed with how the top three teams in each of the three conferences are looking heading into this week.

Friday night in St. Marys the Western Conference witnessed a major upset as the Lambton Shores Predators took to the ice in search of a big two points against the home team Lincolns. With the final score 8-7 for the Predators many are wondering if this is the year that the boys from Lambton Shores finally make the post season. Just two points out of the eighth place spot, the Predators are hot on the heels of the Chatham Maroons. With just six games remaining it will be interesting to see if the Predators can make the most of their remaining games. Heading into this week the Sarnia Legionnaires still remain on top of the Western Conference with 62 points. Ranked second are the Leamington Flyers with 54 points and right behind them with 53 points are the London Nationals.

The Midwestern Conference got a surprise of their own on Saturday night when the fifth ranked Guelph Hurricanes stormed into Cambridge to defeat the fourth place Cambridge Winter Hawks. Edging out the Winter Hawks by the final score of 5-4, the Hurricanes moved up to within nine points of the Winter Hawks. There is still a chance of the Hurricanes catching the Winter Hawks but all signs point to these two clubs meeting in the first round of the playoffs beginning in just a few short weeks. The Brantford Golden Eagles still lay claim to that first place Midwestern Conference spot and also the GOJHL first ranked position. Just three points behind the Eagles are the Stratford Cullitons with 74 points. Rounding out the top three in the conference are the Elmira Sugar Kings with 69 points.

Finally on Sunday in the Golden Horseshoe Conference the Welland Canadians managed to fend off the first ranked St. Catharines Falcons. The fifth place Canadians handed the Falcons just their ninth loss of the season and in the process picked up two big points. The Canadians now sit just two point back of the fourth place Thorold Blackhawks. Heading into this week the Falcons and their 72 points hold a slight two point lead over the second ranked Niagara Falls Canucks (70 points). In the third place spot are the Port Colborne Pirates with 56 points, you can bet they’ll want to finish their season off strong.

Now that you’re all caught up to speed on what went on last weekend in the GOJHL, it’s time to take a look at the six games that are taking place this week in Junior B.

GAME 1 – Tuesday, February 7 – 7:00pm
FORT ERIE vs. BUFFALO
THIS SEASON: Fort Erie (12-29-2), Buffalo (7-35-2)
NOTE: Fort Erie leads season series 4-2
*this is the final game of the season long series between these two teams.
LOCATION: Buffalo State Arena

The seventh and final game of the season long series between the seventh ranked Fort Erie Meteors and the eighth ranked Buffalo Blades is ready to go tonight in Buffalo. These two teams have had quite the battle this season with the Meteors taking four of the previous six meetings. Both teams could use a win to help spark them before the post season begins. We’ll see what happens when Meteors leading scorer Nik Passero (14 goals, 30 assists) faces off against Blades top point producer Brian Osieja (13 goals, 24 assists) for what will be the final time this season. Puck drops on this action tonight at 7:00pm in the Buffalo State Arena.

GAME 2 – Wednesday, February 8 – 7:00pm
ST. THOMAS vs. LASALLE
THIS SEASON: St. Thomas (24-18-3), LaSalle (21-20-2)
NOTE: LaSalle leads season series 4-1
*this is the final game of the season long series between these two teams.
LOCATION: Vollmer Arena

Get ready to see some fireworks when the fourth ranked St. Thomas Stars roll into LaSalle tomorrow evening to take on the red hot Vipers. The Vipers are currently ranked in the seventh spot, however they’ve been winning some big games lately and are showing signs of moving up a few spots before this season is over. This season long series between the two clubs shows the Vipers winning four of the previous five games and with just one remaining it’s up to the Stars to show why they’re ranked fourth. A win in this game would help the Stars significantly as they look to move up to third in the standings. Can forward Drew Collinson (35 goals, 45 assists) lead his Stars to their 25th victory of the season? Will Matt Beaudoin (22 goals, 36 assists) and his teammate Dylan Denomme (26 goals, 25 assists) be instrumental in yet another Vipers victory? Only time will tell as this game gets underway tomorrow night at 7:00pm in the Vollmer Arena.

GAME 3 – Wednesday, February 8 – 7:30pm
LAMBTON SHORES vs. LONDON
THIS SEASON: Lambton Shores (18-26-1), London (25-16-3)
NOTE: Lambton Shores leads season series 3-2
*this is the final game of the season long series between these two teams.
LOCATION: Western Fair Arena

The London Nationals will look to even up their season long series tomorrow night when they take on the surging Lambton Shores Predators. The Nationals sit just a point behind the Leamington Flyers who are currently second in the conference. The Predators on the other hand are just two points out of a playoff berth and looking to make the post season for the first time since they moved to Lambton Shores. In the five previous games these two clubs have played this season, the Predators have managed to win three times. Some would argue the Predators have a slight advantage, but then again, the Nationals will be playing on home ice. See what happens when Nationals leading scorer Noah Schwartz (19 goals, 49 assists) and teammate Aaron Dartch (23 goals, 35 assists) take to the ice. Predators leading scorer Kyle Brothers (22 goals, 39 assists) will no doubt be a marked man when he takes his shifts. Game time is set to take place in the Western Fair Arena tomorrow night at 7:30pm.

GAME 4 – Thursday, February 9 – 7:07pm
BUFFALO vs. THOROLD
THIS SEASON: Buffalo (7-35-2), Thorold (25-16-2)
NOTE: Thorold leads season series 4-0
LOCATION: Thorold Arena

The Thorold Blackhawks will take on the Buffalo Blades on Thursday evening in what will be their fifth game against each other this season. Count on a strong outing from the Blackhawks who want nothing more than to distance themselves from the fifth ranked Welland Canadians who are hot on their heels. The Blades have failed to win a game this year against the Blackhawks and with this being their fifth game against the conference’s fourth place club, it’s going to be an uphill battle for them. Leading the way in scoring for the Blackhawks is forward Greg Cerilli (27 goals, 26 assists), who hopes to give his club two massive points. Puck drop is set to take place on Thursday evening at 7:07pm in the Thorold Arena.

GAME 5 – Thursday, February 9 – 7:10pm
ST. MARYS vs. LEAMINGTON
THIS SEASON: St. Marys (19-15-11), Leamington (25-14-4)
NOTE: St. Marys leads season series 3-2
*this is the final game of the season long series between these two teams.
LOCATION: Leamington Arena

The final game between the Western Conference fifth ranked St. Marys Lincolns and the second ranked Leamington Flyers is set to take place on Thursday night. This season long battle has so far been won by the Lincolns who have a 3-2 series lead over the Flyers. You can bet that the Leamington boys are going to want a win pretty badly as they need to keep ahead of the London Nationals who are applying pressure to overtake that second spot in the final few games. Watch for scoring to come from Lincolns leading scorer, Captain Sean Consitt (17 goals, 33 assists) and forward Brendon Merritt (16 goals, 33 assists). Not to be outdone, the Flyers will play their leading scorer Alex Seguin (30 goals, 34 assists) as much as they can since he has an amazing ability to find the back of the net. This on ice battle gets underway in the Leamington Arena on Thursday night at 7:10pm.

GAME 6 – Thursday, February 9 – 7:30pm
ST. CATHARINES vs. STONEY CREEK
THIS SEASON: St. Catharines (35-7-2), Stoney Creek (13-29-3)
NOTE: St. Catharines leads season series 6-0
*this is the final game of the season long series between these two teams.
LOCATION: Valley Park Arena

The Golden Horseshoe first place St. Catharines Falcons are feeling something that they haven’t felt all season long, pressure. With just a few games left in their season they are in the midst of being over taken by the Niagara Falls Canucks. On Thursday night the Falcons must take on the visiting team roll when they head into Stoney Creek to take on the sixth ranked Warriors who have a bone of their own to pick with the Falcons. In their six previous meetings, the Falcons have won each game and the Warriors can’t help but feel like a win in this game would not only help improve their overall record, but also their confidence heading into the post season. Count on a strong outing from Myles Falasca (28 goals, 31 assists) and teammate Mike Casale (18 goals, 23 assists) as they look to lead their Warriors to a massive upset. Falcons leading scorer’s Curtis Longland (24 goals, 30 assists) and Riley Jakobschuk (26 goals, 26 assists) are going to need to bring their best performance of the season into this battle. Game time is set for 7:30pm on Thursday night in the Valley Park Arena

Those are all six games Hockey Fans, previewed and ready for you to take in. just a few more weeks remain in the GOJHL regular season and you can bet that those clubs fighting for a playoff berth are going to be applying some heavy pressure heading down the home stretch. Get ready, it’s almost time! Until the weekend Hockey Fans, have fun, stay safe, aim high and like always, keep your stick on the ice! Cheers!