By: Chris McLachlin, OHA Media
Photos: Amy Hinchey & J. Visca

OHA SCHMALZ CUP: STAYNER VS LAKEFIELD SEMIFINAL PREVIEW
Stayner Siskins (40-2-0-0) vs Lakefield Chiefs (34-4-1-3)

The 2018 OHA Schmalz Cup Semifinal Series between the Stayner Siskins and the Lakefield Chiefs features two teams who had extended winning streaks during the season. The Siskins opened the season with 29 straight wins, losing only 2 games all year. Meanwhile, the Chiefs closed their regular season with 17 straight wins. Both teams are deep offensively with strong goaltending; this will be an exciting series to watch. Game 1 of the series is Thursday, April 5 at the Stayner Memorial Arena. The winner advances to the 2018 OHA Schmalz Cup Championship Series against the winner of the other semifinal series between the Stayner Siskins and Lakefield Chiefs when a new Champion will be crowned.

The Stayner Siskins are in search of their first-ever OHA Schmalz Cup and this is the first time they have reached the Semifinals since 1992 when they lost in the 1992 Finals to the Belle River Canadiens in six games. The Lakefield Chiefs last trip to the OHA Schmalz Cup Semifinals was in 2014 when they won their third Schmalz Cup in franchise history, beating the Essex 73’s. 

Stayner Siskins
The Stayner Siskins had a fantastic regular season, finishing in first place in the Carruthers Division with a record of 40-2-0, including 29 straight wins to start the season. The Siskins were one of the top offensive teams in the entire PJHL in the regular season, amassing 299 goals for an average of 7.12 goals per game, which placed them 2nd overall, finishing behind only the Napanee Raiders who averaged 7.55 per game. When you win 40 of 42 games, you need to be strong on both sides of the puck and the Siskins allowed the 2nd fewest goals against per game at 1.93, again only the Napanee Raiders mark of 1.75 goals against was better. Offense; defense; the Stayner Siskins have it all in 2017-18 and they have continued their run throughout the playoffs.

Offensively the Siskins are loaded with talent, including JD Falconer who had 103 points (56G, 47A) in 38 games to lead the Carruthers Division and was second in the PJHL. Right behind Falconer was Ben Hughes who had his second straight 100-point season, finishing with 38 goals and 62 assists in 40 games. Two other players, Jordan Taylor (36) and Lucas Jeffrey (30) surpassed the 30-goal plateau and nine players averaged more than one point per game. Stayner also received offensive contributions from their blue line as Liam Kendall was sixth in team scoring with 56 points (10G, 46A) in 38 games and Austin Fischer added 40 points (12G, 28A) in 36 games. Through 20 playoff games Ben Hughes is leading the way with 29 points (14G, 15A) including 4 goals and 1 assist in the clinching Game 5 win over the Mount Forest Patriots to win the North Championship.

Veteran junior goaltender Marcus Semiao provides the Siskins with outstanding goaltending and he had sparkling numbers in the regular season with a record of 25-1-0, 1 shutout and a 1.69 GAA and .946 SV%. Rookie backup Zach Levac provides exceptional depth at the position as he was 15-1-0, 1 shutout and a 2.26 GAA and .916 SV% in the regular season. In the Playoffs Semiao has played the bulk of the games with a record of 12-4 with 1 shutout and a2.78 GAA and .921 SV%. 

Stayner’s special teams are quite strong as you would imagine, their powerplay ranked 4th overall in the regular season at 27.7% and through 20 playoff games they are at 27.9% which is second only to the Port Hope Panthers at 29.2%. On the penalty kill the Siskins are just as strong, finishing 3rd overall in the regular season at 90.3% and in the playoffs they have been even stingier, killing penalties at a rate of 92.1% which is the best mark of any team still playing. 

Lakefield Chiefs
The Lakefield Chiefs had another impressive year, finishing in first place in the Orr Division in the regular season with a record of 34-4-1-3. The Chiefs finished the season on a 17 game winning streak that they extended 5 games into the playoffs before losing Game 2 of the Orr Championship to the Port Perry MoJacks. Lakefield had the second highest scoring offense in their division and the best defense. Their 5.52 goals scored per game was the ninth best in the entire PJHL, while their 2.40 goals against per game was eighth best. The Lakefield Chiefs are a very balanced team offensively and defensively. 

Offensively the Chiefs are led by Orr Division MVP Aaron Vatcher who had 73 points (42G, 31A) in 38 games. Right behind Vatcher was Matthew McIntyre with 72 points in 37 games and was the team leader with 37 assists. Cole Robbins provided a spark from the blue line, contributing 34 points (10G, 24A) in 38 games, while Tarren Jank chipped in with 27 points in 33 games. Not surprisingly, so far through 16 playoff games it has been McIntyre and Vatcher leading the way for the Chiefs with 24 and 19 points respectively. 

The Chiefs had the top goaltending tandem in the Orr Division this year with Michael Christie and Nic Mutton splitting the duties almost equally. Christie finished the season 17-4-0 with 4 shutouts and a 2.21 GAA and .925 SV%, while Mutton was 15-3-1 with 1 shutout and a 2.80 GAA and .894 SV%. Christie has carried the workload in the playoffs, playing in all 16 games with a record of 12-4 and 2.23 GAA and .930 SV%. He was particularly good in Game 7 of the East Conference Championship against Port Hope, stopping 34 of 36 shots to help the Chiefs win the series.

During the regular season the Chiefs had the best powerplay in the Orr Division at 24.3% which was 11th best in the PJHL, and through 16 playoff games they are at 20.2%. The penalty killing was equally strong for Lakefield in the regular season, finishing at 88.1%, putting them in the top 10 in the PJHL but the PK has struggled a bit in the playoffs so far, dropping to 79.7%.

THE TALE OF THE TAPE

HOW THEY GOT HERE
Stayner:
- beat the Orillia Terriers in 4 games in the Carruthers Division Quarterfinals
- beat the Penetang Kings in 6 games in the Carruthers Division Semifinals
- beat the Alliston Hornets in 5 games in the Carruthers Division Finals
- beat the Mount Forest Patriots in 5 games in the North Conference Championship

Lakefield:
- first round bye in the Orr Division Quarterfinals
- beat the North Kawartha Knights in 4 games in the Orr Division Semifinals
- beat the Port Perry MoJacks in 5 games in the Orr Division Finals
- beat the Port Hope Panthers in 7 games in the East Conference Championship

LEADING PLAYOFF SCORERS
Stayner: 
1. Ben Hughes 29 PTS (14G, 15A)
1. Austin Fischer 25 PTS (15G, 10A)
2. Joey Visconti 25 PTS (13G, 12A)

Lakefield:
1. Matthew McIntyre 24 PTS (9G, 15A)
2. Aaron Vatcher 19 PTS (11G, 8A) 
3. Jeff Hawthorne 17 PTS (9G, 8A)

GOALTENDERS
Stayner: 
Marcus Semiao (16 GP, 12-4, 1 SO, 2.78 GAA, .921 SV%)
Zach Levac (6 GP, 4-0, 2.64 GAA, .899 SV%)

Lakefield: 
Michael Christie (16 GP, 12-4, 2.23 GAA, .930 SV%)

STATS
Stayner: (Regular Season | Playoffs)
Lakefield: (Regular Season | Playoffs)

Click here for the 2018 PJHL & Schmalz Cup Brackets

2018 OHA SCHMALZ CUP SEMIFINAL SCHEDULE:
STAYNER SISKINS VS LAKEFIELD CHIEFS
Game 1: Thu. Apr. 5 at 8:10 PM @ Stayner
Game 2: Sat. Apr. 7 at 7:30 PM @ Lakefield
Game 3: Sun. Apr. 8 at 1:30 PM @ Stayner
Game 4: Tue. Apr. 10 at 7:30 PM @ Lakefield
*Game 5: Thu. Apr. 12 at 8:10 PM @ Stayner
*Game 6: Sat. Apr. 14 at 7:30 PM @ Lakefield
*Game 7: Sun. Apr. 15 at 1:30 PM @ Stayner
(* if necessary)

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