News

By: Chris McLachlin, OHA Media
Photos: Ken Solilo Photography & Tayna Taylor/Censational Photography

OHA SCHMALZ CUP CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW:
Port Hope Panthers (35-3-1) vs Ayr Centennials (37-3-0)

In September, 63 PJHL teams had hopes and dreams of hoisting the 2017 OHA Schmalz Cup at the end of the season; now there are only 2 teams remaining who can make those dreams a reality. On Friday, April 21 the Port Hope Panthers and Ayr Centennials will square off in Game 1 of the Championship Series, with the winner of this best of 7 series claiming the coveted Schmalz Cup and the first-ever PJHL Championship.

This is a rematch of last year’s Schmalz Cup Championship, won in 4 games by the Centennials over the Panthers. The Centennials are looking for back to back Schmalz Cups; the last repeat Champions were the Grimsby Peach Kings in 2011 and 2012. The Panthers are making their third straight trip to the Schmalz Cup Championship and are eyeing their first OHA title after losing to the Essex 73’s in 7 games in 2015 and Ayr in 4 games last year. The 2017 OHA Schmalz Cup Championship Series begins on Friday, April 21 in Port Hope at 7:30 PM. 

Port Hope Panthers
Regular Season: 35-3-1
Playoffs: 16-3

The Port Hope Panthers are making their third straight appearance in the OHA Schmalz Cup Championship after beating the Alliston Hornets in the Semifinals in 5 games. In 2015 the Panthers were down 3-0 to the Essex 73’s and won the next 3 games to tie the series, but the 73’s shut them out in Game 7 by a score of 1-0 to win the Schmalz Cup. Last year, the Panthers faced the Ayr Centennials in the Finals and were swept in 4 games. This year the Panthers are looking for a different ending, and their first-ever OHA Schmalz Cup Championship. 

The Panthers are led by the top scorer in the East Conference, two-time Tod Division MVP Dalton Lawrence. Lawrence, who had 76 points (33G – 43A) in 37 regular season games, has added 23 points (8G – 15A) in 19 playoff games. The Panthers also have Cameron McGill who anchors their blueline and has been named the Tod Division’s top defenseman three years in a row. McGill led all East Conference defenders in scoring in the regular season with 41 points (9G – 32A) in 36 games and has added 19 points (8G – 11A) in 19 playoff games for the Panthers. Lawrence and McGill aren’t the only offensive contributors on this team as George Miranda led the Panthers against the Alliston Hornets in the Schmalz Cup Semifinals with 10 points (5G, 5A) and Kallen McFarland has 18 points in 19 playoff games.

In net, the Panthers are set with one of the top goaltenders in the East Conference as Sheldon Calbury had the best GAA (1.82) to go along with a record of 18-1-0 and 3 shutouts and a .921 SV% in the regular season. Through 14 playoff games this year, Calbury has remained solid between the pipes for the Panthers with a record of 12-2, 1 shutout, a 2.35 GAA and .893 SV%. Eric Jackson is Calbury’s backup and he played well during the East Conference Championship when he was called upon; he has a 4-1 record in the playoffs, 2.45 GAA, and .900 SV% to give the Panthers depth in goal.

Ayr Centennials
Regular Season: 37-3-0
Playoffs: 20-3

The Ayr Centennials are the defending OHA Schmalz Champions and are coming off an exciting come from behind Semifinals series win over the Essex 73’s. Essex held a 3 games to 1 advantage but the Centennials were able to win Game 5 at home 5-0 and Game 6 in Essex 5-2 to force a Game 7. In Game 7, the Centennials trailed 1-0 entering the third period but Mackenzie Kemp scored 23 seconds into the third period to tie the game and Hudson Michaelis scored the winner with 1:41 left on the clock to win Game 7 for the Centennials and send them back to the Championship.

In the regular season, Ayr was led by Doherty Division MVP Mitch Klie who was the top scorer in the South Conference with 95 points (29G, 66A) in 40 games, second overall in the PJHL to Stayner’s Ben Hughes who had 102 points in 40 games. Not only did the Centennials have the top scorer, they are deep, as 12 other players averaged more than one point per game, including Michaelis who scored 39 points (15G, 24A) in just 16 regular season games. Ayr also gets offensive contributions from their blue line with Connor MacLean (67 points) and Nolan Ferris (33 points) leading the way. Through 23 playoff games, Quinn Diamond is leading the way with 28 points (17G, 11A), Michaelis also has 28 points (13G, 15A) in just 19 games, Alex Mutton has 25 points (10G, 15A) and Klie has 24 points (7G, 17A) in 18 games. Defenceman Connor MacLean led the Centennials in scoring in their Semifinal series against Essex with 7 assists in 7 games. 

Ayr used a 2-goalie rotation during the regular season and that has continued for most of the playoffs with Jackson Swindells and Brennan Hadad splitting duties. Swindells was 21-3-0, with a 2.67 GAA and .910 SV% in the regular season, while Hadad was 15-0-0, with a 1.99 GAA and .930 SV%. The two goalies split time between the pipes through the first 4 rounds of playoffs, but Swindells was in goal for all 7 games against Essex. Against the 73’s, Swindells was 4-3, with a 1.54 GAA and .947 SV%.

HOW THEY GOT HERE
Port Hope:
- beat the Picton Pirates in 4 games to win Tod Division Semifinals
- beat the Napanee Raiders in 4 games to win the Tod Division Championship
- beat the Lakefield Chiefs in 6 games to win the East Conference Championship
- beat the Alliston Hornets in 5 games to win the OHA Schmalz Cup Semifinals

Ayr:
- beat the Burford Bulldogs in 4 games to win Doherty Division Quarterfinals
- beat the Norwich Merchants in 4 games to win Doherty Division Semifinals
- beat the Paris Mounties in 4 games to win the Doherty Division Championship
- beat the Grimsby Peach Kings in 4 games to win South Conference Championship
- beat the Essex 73’s in 7 games to win the OHA Schmalz Cup Semifinals

LEADING PLAYOFF SCORERS
Port Hope:
1. George Miranda 29 PTS (13G, 16A) in 19 games
2. Dalton Lawrence 23 PTS (8G, 15A) in 19 games
3. Cameron McGill 19 PTS (8G, 11A) in 19 games
4. Kallen McFarland 18 PTS (8G, 10A) in 19 games
5. Mike Smith 15 PTS (9G, 6A) in 19 games

Ayr:
1. Quinn Diamond 28 PTS (17G, 11A) in 23 games
2. Hudson Michaelis 28 PTS (13G, 15A) in 19 games
3. Alex Mutton 25 PTS (10G, 15A) in 23 games
4. Mitch Klie 24 PTS (7G, 17A) in 18 games
5. Connor MacLean 24 PTS (4G, 20A) in 20 games

GOALTENDERS
Port Hope:
Sheldon Calbury (14GP, 12-2, 2.35GAA, .893 SV%)
Eric Jackson (6GP, 4-1, 2.45 GAA, .900 SV%)

Ayr:
Jackson Swindells (16GP, 12-3, 1.50 GAA, .949 SV%)
Brennan Hadad (8GP, 8-0, 2.01 GAA, .927 SV%)

POWER PLAY
Port Hope: (29.3% reg. season), (19.3% playoffs)
Ayr: (29.5% reg. season), (25.2% playoffs)

PENALTY KILLING
Port Hope: (90.3% reg. season), (87.5% playoffs)
Ayr: (86.6% reg. season), (89.0% playoffs)

Port Hope's Regular Season stats
Port Hope’s Playoff stats
Port Hope’s Schmalz Cup stats

Ayr's Regular Season stats
Ayr’s Playoff stats
Ayr’s Schmalz Cup stats

Click here for links to all PJHL Playoffs Brackets
 

2017 OHA SCHMALZ CUP CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES SCHEDULE:
Game 1: Fri. Apr. 21 at 7:30 PM – Ayr at Port Hope
Game 2: Sun. Apr. 23 at 2:00 PM – Port Hope at Ayr
Game 3: Wed. Apr. 26 at 7:30 PM – Ayr at Port Hope
Game 4: Fri. Apr. 28 at 7:30 PM – Port Hope at Ayr
*Game 5: Sun. Apr. 30 at 2:00 PM – Ayr at Port Hope
*Game 6: Wed. May 3 at 7:30 PM – Port Hope at Ayr
*Game 7: Fri. May 5 at 7:30 PM – Ayr at Port Hope
(* if necessary)