Ottawa, Ontario – The Ottawa Jr. Canadians will host the Embrun Panthers in game one of their best of seven Martin Division Semi-Finals on Tuesday March 10th inside the Earl Armstrong Arena.
Schedule: Ottawa (32-9-3) vs. Embrun (29-13-2)
Game 1: Tuesday March 10th @ 7:20PM – Earl Armstrong Arena
Game 2: Friday March 13th @ 8:00PM – Embrun Arena
Game 3: Saturday March 14th @ 7:20PM – Earl Armstrong Arena
Game 4: Monday March 16th @ 7:00PM – Embrun Arena
Game 5: Tuesday March 17th @ 7:20PM – Earl Armstrong Arena
Game 6: Friday March 20th @ 8:00PM – Embrun Arena
Game 7: Saturday March 21st @ 7:20PM – Earl Armstrong Arena
It’s the first time in CCHL2 history that the Embrun Panthers and the Ottawa Jr. Canadians will face off in the Martin Division Semi-Finals. The season series was tied at two games a piece. OJC won two games in regulation while Embrun had two wins in extra time, once in overtime in the first half and in a shootout in the second half.
Ottawa’s Keys to Victory:
The Ottawa Jr. Canadians were the second best team in the CCHL2 this season after they were 1st in the league last year. Ottawa Jr. Canadians assistant Coach Stuart Battrick talks about his roster that he had this season.
“It’s definitely a different team than last year. Our team is a little younger. They are a little less experienced but we have great leaders and the young players are getting better every day.”
Nicolas Seguin is in his final season of junior hockey and had 30 goals and 32 assists in in 43 games and Noel de Kemp who is a return player this season that had 21 goals and 33 assists in 35 games. According to Battrick, these two teams have great offensive players but will have to figure out a way to get through the Embrun Panthers.
“There are some similarities in our opponents from last year and this year. Both are very well coached, and play with structure. Both have some high end offensive players. This year we are facing the goalie of the year and coach of the year. It’s an added challenge that we are looking forward to facing.”
William Nguyen was the goaltender of the year and Darrell Campbell was coach of the year. Expect Ryan Whitehurst to start in the playoffs like he did last year, on their run to the Barkley Cup finals. Battrick says Ottawa needs to be at their best this series.
“Embrun has a deep roster who works hard. To have success we’ll really have to be well prepared and play our very best every night. We expect our opponent to play hard. We’ll have to out work then every shift, and finds way to beat a strong goaltender.”
Antonino Licandro and Mike Hall are also in their final season of junior hockey as a 20 year old. It’s their last chance to give this team a shot to get back to the Barkley Cup finals this season. Expect them to be key factors on the back end this series.
Embrun’s Keys to Victory:
The Embrun Panthers were the second worst team in the league last year, but Embrun was able to overcome all of that adversity and finish third in the Martin Division and in the league. The reason why Embrun had a successful season was because of William Nguyen, who was terrific in between the pipes by going 17-9-1, posting a 2.06 GAA and .943 SV% which ranks first among goalies. Embrun Panthers Head Coach Darrell Campbell says we need our goatending to continue to be solid and consistent, just as they were during the season.
The depth was another reason why this team was so hard to beat in the regular season. Cayden Martin (9G / 24A), Eric Skyba (16G / 15A), Robert Beaudoin (15G / 15A), Marshall Drevniok (13G / 16A), and Juno Gregoire (12G / 10A) were in the top six in scoring with the team this season as secondary scoring for Embrun will be key in this series. Campbell says we rely on all four lines, so depth will be important in all aspects. Finally, Tristian Taillefer scored 33 goals, to go along with 20 assists in all 44 games in his age 19 year and will need to be important in this series according to Campbell.
“Tristian Taillefer is one of the top scorers in the league, so it will be helpful for sure that he continues his scoring. We will need all our guys to be doing their part.”
Verdict:
This series is expect to be very tight. One goal games are going to be very important in this series. Four times this season that both of these teams were involved with one goal games. Fans won’t be surprised if this series goes to seven games.
