FEBRUARY 13 – Good day Hockey Fans and welcome to the GOJHL Preview 46. This week is sure to be a good one with nine games scheduled to take place beginning tonight.

Before we dive into this week’s previews, let’s do a quick recap of the games that entertained us all this past weekend. We had plenty to choose from but in the end we decided to recap these three battles.

The Midwestern Conference got heated on Friday night when the third ranked Elmira Sugar Kings rolled into Stratford to take on the second ranked Cullitons. With two big points on the line the Sugar Kings managed to escape the road game with a massive 7-6 victory. With the Sugar Kings and their now 73 point season just two behind the Cullitons with five games remaining for both clubs, the rest of the season is going to be big to see who ends up in the second spot. Heading into this week the standings show the Brantford Golden Eagles with 79 points, the Cullitons sitting with 75 points and the Sugar Kings rounding out the top three with 73 points.

In the Golden Horseshoe Conference on Friday night fans in Port Colborne had something to cheer for themselves. The home team Pirates managed to fend off the red hot Thorold Blackhawks to earn two big points. The win by the Pirates earned them their 58th point on the season and shot them to a four point lead for third place in the conference over the Blackhawks. The St. Catharines Falcons head into this week retaining the first place ranking with 76 points. In second place and hot on the heels of the Falcons are the Niagara Falls Canucks with 74 points. Rounding out the top three are the Pirates and their 58 points.

Finally on Sunday evening in the Western Conference a major upset took place when the Chatham Maroons played the host team role against the London Nationals. With two big points on the line, the Maroons didn’t miss a beat, defeating the heavily favoured Nationals by a final score of 6-5. The Maroons managed to stay in the playoff hunt with the big win over the Nationals and are currently tied for the final playoff spot with the Lambton Shores Predators at 41 points each. The Nationals, with that tough loss, managed to stay tied with the St. Thomas Stars for third place in the conference with 53 points each. The Sarnia Legionnaires currently hold the first place spot in the Western Conference with 64 points and they show little sign of giving up that position. With 56 points the Leamington Flyers continue to hold down the second place ranking and the Stars and Nationals are currently at a dead lock with 53 points each.

Now that you’re caught up to speed on what went on last weekend in the GOJHL, it’s time to dive into the nine games taking place this week. With just two weeks remaining on the regular season schedule all fans of the GOJHL should get out to the arena’s to catch the final regular season games and help cheer on your home team from now until the post season.

GAME 1 – Monday, February 13 – 7:37pm
BUFFALO vs. THOROLD
THIS SEASON: Buffalo (8-37-2), Thorold (26-17-2)
NOTE: Thorold leads season series 5-0
LOCATION: Thorold Arena

The Thorold Blackhawks are excited at the chance to play the Buffalo Blades twice this week in their home rink. With this being the first of the two meetings, it’ll come as no surprise to the rest of the Golden Horseshoe Conference if the Blackhawks come out flying right from the opening puck drop. With a 5-0 season series lead over the Blades, the Blackhawks have seemingly eased their way through games against this opposing club this season. We’ll see if the Sabres can answer back before their regular season series is a sweep in favour of the Blackhawks. Watch for scoring from Blades forward Brian Osieja (14 goals, 24 assists) as he tries to gain a big “W” for his team. Blackhawks leading scorer Greg Cerilli (29 goals, 27 assists) will no doubt be a marked man when he gets the puck in this game. Action starts tonight at 7:37pm in the Thorold Arena.

GAME 2 – Tuesday, February 14 – 7:00pm
WATERLOO vs. KITCHENER
THIS SEASON: Waterloo (15-28-3), Kitchener (8-31-7)
NOTE: Waterloo leads season series 5-0
*this is the final game of the season long series between these two teams.
LOCATION: Kinsmen Arena

This season’s battle of KW has not been that close in terms of the season series score going in favour of the Waterloo Siskins. The Siskins have managed to win each of their previous five meetings against the Kitchener Dutchmen this season and show no signs of dropping the sixth and final game tomorrow night. With the Siskins sitting in a tie with the Listowel Cyclones at 33 points each, you just know they’ll want to overtake them tomorrow night with two big points. Look for offense to come from the Dutchmen’s Phil Edgar (12 goals, 15 assists) if the home team is going to win this battle. On the Siskins bench, forward Adam Campagnolo (17 goals, 30 assists) and teammate Kyle Platzer (25 goals, 21 assists) are going to be very tough to stop. Get ready for this action when it begins at 7:00pm on Tuesday night in the Kinsmen Arena.

GAME 3 – Wednesday, February 15 – 7:00pm
LAMBTON SHORES vs. LASALLE
THIS SEASON: Lambton Shores (20-26-1), LaSalle (22-21-2)
NOTE: LaSalle leads season series 3-2
*this is the final game of the season long series between these two teams.
LOCATION: Vollmer Arena

You can be sure that the game between the Western Conference sixth ranked LaSalle Vipers and the seventh ranked Lambton Shores Predators is going to be a good one on Wednesday night. With just five points separating the two clubs and the Predators buying for a shot at making the post season for the first time since their move to Lambton Shores, intensity levels are high on both sides. The Vipers hold a 3-2 series lead going into Wednesday night’s challenge and with any luck will close out their season long series against the red hot Predators on a high note. Kyle Brothers (22 goals, 40 assists) for the Predators and Matt Beaudoin (24 goals, 36 assists) for the Vipers will go head to head to see who can come out on top. Game time is set to take place in the Vollmer Arena on Wednesday evening beginning at 7:00pm.

GAME 4 – Wednesday, February 15 – 7:15pm
ST. CATHARINES vs. FORT ERIE
THIS SEASON: St. Catharines (37-7-2), Fort Erie (12-30-3)
NOTE: St. Catharines leads season series 5-0
*this is the final game of the season long series between these two teams.
LOCATION: LeisurePlex Arena

The Fort Erie Meteors are looking to pick themselves up with a big upset win against the Golden Horseshoe Conference first ranked St. Catharines Falcons Wednesday evening. The Falcons have won each of the five previous games against the Meteors this season and shoe little sign of dropping their sixth and final meeting of the season. Falcons leading scorer Riley Jakobschuk (26 goals, 30 assists) and teammate Curtis Longland (24 goals, 31 assists) will no doubt pose some problems for the opposition in this battle. Meteors top scorer Nike Passero (15 goals, 30 assists) and forward Jordan Bailey (13 goals, 30 assists) are going to need to step up their game if their club is going to skate away with a “W”. Puck drops on this game Wednesday night in the LeisurePlex Arena at 7:15pm.

GAME 5 – Wednesday, February 15 – 7:30pm
STRATHROY vs. LONDON
THIS SEASON: Strathroy (23-21-3), London (25-18-3)
NOTE: Strathroy leads season series 5-0
*this is the final game of the season long series between these two teams.
LOCATION: Western Fair Arena

The London Nationals will attempt to win their first of six meetings this season against the Strathroy Rockets on Wednesday night. The Nationals who are currently tied for third place with the St. Thomas Stars in the Western Conference. The Rockets currently sit in fifth place and a win for them would tie them with the St. Marys Lincolns for fourth place. The Rockets have dominated the series this year winning all five games against the Nationals this season. Will that change tonight? Only time will tell. Keep an eye out for scoring from Nationals forwards Noah Schwartz (20 goals, 53 assists) and Aaron Dartch (28 goals, 35 assists). Rockets leading scorer Davis Brown (45 goals, 34 assists) is going to be a tough man to cover for the opposition. Game time for this battle is Wednesday evening at 7:30pm in the Western Fair Arena.

GAME 6 – Wednesday, February 15 – 7:37pm
BUFFALO vs. THOROLD
THIS SEASON: Buffalo (8-37-2), Thorold (26-17-2)
NOTE: This is the second game this week that these two teams are playing against each other.
*this is the final game of the season long series between these two teams.
LOCATION: Thorold Arena

GAME 7 – Thursday, February 16 – 7:07pm
STONEY CREEK vs. THOROLD
THIS SEASON: Stoney Creek (14-31-3), Thorold (26-17-2)
NOTE: Thorold leads season series 5-0
LOCATION: Thorold Arena

Marking the third time in as many days, the Thorold Blackhawks will once again defend home ice in a battle against the Stoney Creek Warriors. This will mark the sixth time that these two clubs will meet this season with the previous five games going in favour of the Blackhawks. Is fatigue going to play a role in this game for the Blackhawks? Time will tell that tale. Watch for Myles Falasca (29 goals, 33 assists) to lead his Warriors to a big “W” in this game. Opening face-off is set to take place on Thursday night at 7:07pm in the Thorold Arena.

GAME 8 – Thursday, February 16 – 7:10pm
ST. THOMAS vs. LEAMINGTON
THIS SEASON: St. Thomas (25-19-3), Leamington (26-16-4)
NOTE: Leamington leads season series 3-2
*this is the final game of the season long series between these two teams.
LOCATION: Leamington Arena

The Leamington Flyers will get set to do battle in their home rink on Thursday night against the St. Thomas Stars. This game between the Western Conference second ranked Flyers and the third ranked Stars is going to be a good one as just three points separate these two teams. These two conference rivals have played five games this season with three wins going in favour of the Flyers. All that could change after this game finishes on Thursday night. Watch for scoring from Stars forward Drew Collinson (36 goals, 47 assists) and Flyers leading scorer Alex Seguin (32 goals, 35 assists). Puck drops for this game on Thursday night at 7:10pm in the Leamington Arena.

GAME 9 – Thursday, February 16 – 7:10pm
CHATHAM vs. SARNIA
THIS SEASON: Chatham (18-24-5), Sarnia (30-13-4)
NOTE: Chatham leads season series 3-2
*this is the final game of the season long series between these two teams.
LOCATION: Sarnia Arena

The final game of the week gets underway on Thursday evening when the Western Conference first place Sarnia Legionnaires play host to the Chatham Maroons who are currently fighting for the eighth and final playoff spot with the Lambton Shores Predators. This season long series has featured the two clubs going head-to-head five times prior to this game. In three games they’ve played the Maroons have managed to win, leaving the first ranked Legionnaires with a bitter taste in their mouths. We’ll see what happens when these two teams collide on Thursday. Watch for Maroons Captain Sean Myers (22 goals, 35 assists) and teammate Michael Verboom (17 goals, 32 assists) as they do what they can to get their team two big points. Legionnaires coaching staff will look for a big game form their leading scorer Jesse Drydak (37 goals, 35 assists) as he tries to add to his impressive point total. This final game of the week gets underway Thursday night in the Sarnia Arena at 7:10pm.

That’s it for this week Hockey Fans. All nine games have been previewed and are ready for you to take in. Remember that there are only a few weeks left before the post season gets underway. Happy Valentine Day to all you love birds out there, remember that there is no better way to spend time with your loved one than to be cheering on your favourite hockey team at the arena! Until the weekend Hockey Fans, have fun, stay safe, aim high and keep your stick on the ice! Cheers!