For the first time since the 2009/2010 season the Cumberland Grads will be playing past the end of the regular campaign.

On Sunday, February 15 Cumberland defeated the Gloucester Rangers 8-3 earning two points which enabled the Grads to secure a post in this year’s play-downs.

The win gave the Grads a total of 73 points courtesy of their 33-15-5-2 record after 55 games.

“Earning a play-off berth is a tremendous accomplishment for the team and a significant step in the right direction for the organization,” said Cumberland head coach, Sylvain Favreau.

“It’s been awhile since the Grads skated in the post season. That period is now over, we’ll continue to work hard and see where we finish in the final play-off rankings.

The veteran CCHL head coach has to be given a ton of credit for turning the team around in a very short period of time.

Favreau took over the club in April 2015 when he was hired to be the organization’s new head coach and Director of Hockey Operations.

With just seven games remaining in the regular schedule, the Grads occupy second place in the Yzerman Division and sit in fifth place overall in the CCHL standings.

Only 5 points separate the Grads from top spot overall in league standings which is held by the Carleton Place Canadians (38-15-2-0, 78 pts.) 

“Playing well, winning games and collecting points to help secure home ice advantage are definitely our goals the rest of the way,” Favreau admitted.

The Grads have a busy week which started on Family Day where they knocked off Gloucester.

On Thursday, February 18 the Grads will travel to Cassleman, Ontario for a neutral site game against the Yzerman Division leading Ottawa Jr. Senators (35-13-4-2, 76 pts.)

The contest will be played at the J.R. Brisson Complex in Casselman.

Game time is scheduled for 7:30pm.

Cumberland will be right back at it the following night, February 19 when they play host to the Nepean Raiders (19-25-5-1, 44 pts.).

Puck drop at the Navan Memorial Centre is set for 7:30pm.

On Sunday, February 21 the Grads and Gloucester Rangers (5-46-2-1, 13 pts.) will face off against each other for the final time this season.

Game time at the Navan Memorial Centre is 3pm.

Grads News and Notes: F Shawn Cameron and D Zack Salloum continue to lead the CCHL in scoring. Cameron sits atop the CCHL scoring race with 37-47-84 points in 54 games while Salloum leads all CCHL defencemen with 11-37-48 points in 53 contests.

F Martin Frechette (34-30, 64 pts.) sits in third place in CCHL scoring while Brandon Makara (23-34, 57 pts) is in eighth place. Michael Larose rounds out the Top 10 in scoring with (18-36, 54 pts.)