GRAVENHURST — The South Muskoka Shield has advanced to the next round of playoffs in the Greater Metro Jr. A Hockey League after beating King Wild in a best-of-three playoff series on the weekend.
Following the 3-0 series sweep over King, the Shield could face Bradford in the best four-of-seven semifinal. The Rattlers have a two-game lead on the Brock Bucks in quarterfinal action. The winner of that series will play the Shield. Game 3 of the Brock/Bradford series is scheduled for Wednesday.
Reflecting on the quarterfinal series, coach Dallyn Telford said the Shield looked determined from the start of Game 1 to the end of Game 3.
“Everything is elevated in the playoffs. Intensity is higher, emotions are stronger and mistakes are magnified,” he said. “Sacrifice in the playoffs is paramount and the guys were willing to lay their bodies on the line all series. Our team defensive play was excellent allowing only six goals in three games, while scoring 16.”
After a slow start in Game 1 at home, the Shield settled down for a 5-1 win.
King started the scoring with the man advantage after a tripping penalty against the Shield’s Chris Lane. Dylan Sontag scored the equalizer, also on a power play, with less than eight minutes to play in the first period.
Goalie Rob Sutherland was solid in net and made some big saves. Shots on goal were close with 33 for South Muskoka and 30 for King.
Four Shield goals in the second period proved to be enough to keep the lead and allowed the team to play a shut-down game for the third period. Dan Soderberg-Andersson, Jon Adams and Trevor Smith scored goals. Sontag added his second of the game.
“I’m sure a lot of guys were nervous playing in their first playoff game,” Telford said. “After the first period, we started playing our game and dominated.”
Game 2 was a more physical bout in King’s home rink, Telford said.
“It was very evident that King’s game plan was to hit us at every opportunity in an effort to stop our speed,” he explained. “Instead, it led to penalty trouble for the Wild and allowed us to have several power-play opportunities. Although our puck possession time was great, we had trouble scoring on Wild goalie Kyle Parker, as he made several unbelievable saves to keep his team in the game.”
Parker faced 48 South Muskoka shots, while Sutherland with his second start in net allowed two of King’s 27 shots.
Scoring for the 4-2 win was Adams, notching his second playoff goal, Sontag with two markers and captain Chad Meagher with a single.
“This game was a lot closer than it should have been as we had two goals called back on premature whistles while the puck was still loose around the net,” said Telford.
With a 2-0 series lead, the Shield was comfortable returning to Gravenhurst for Game 3.
It was the last game the Shield would play at Gravenhurst Centennial Centre as the facility is booked this weekend for the Ontario Winter Games, and then closes March 9 for construction.
Uncertainty remains about where the remainder of the Shield’s home playoffs games will be played. The Shield can no longer use Gravenhurst Centennial Centre due to the start of construction to expand the hockey dressing rooms and add an aquatic facility.
Still, the Shield played with determination.
“We scored early and gained momentum that we never gave back,” Telford said.
In the first period, the Shield jumped ahead 3-0 with power play goals by Ricky Greenslade and Trevor Smith and an even strength marker from Morgan Didsbury.
Mark Wardell got his first playoff start between the pipes, taking 42 shots on net from King.
Soderberg-Andersson made it 4-0 on the man advantage at 6:09, but two cross-checking penalties against the Shield allowed King to get on the scoreboard with its first goal.
Sontag put the game further out of reach for King Wild with the fifth goal of the game, but then gave up a bad bounce as King’s Joseph Santino got by Wardell with a shorthanded goal.
With the Shield leading 5-2, King Wild fought to close the gap, but could only get one past Wardell early in the third.
Greenslade’s line, including Sontag and Meagher, scored another power-play goal on Parker to double the lead 6-3. Meagher found the back of the net with Sontag and Adams assisting for a 7-3 final.
“Our discipline was outstanding and will have to continue to be,” Telford said of the Shield’s first-round performance. “We know that this was our easiest round and that a very tough road lies ahead. We’re happy that we’re moving on but also, we are experienced enough to know that we must now refocus and get ready for the second round.”
Visit www.gmhl.net for up-to-date playoff information.