By: Chris McLachlin, OHA Media
Photos: Laurie Beaten & SGL247Media

PJHL WEST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
Lakeshore Canadiens (27-8-2-3) vs Lambeth Lancers (34-5-0-0)

The 2018 PJHL West Conference Championship Series between the Lakeshore Canadiens and Lambeth Lancers starts on Tuesday, March 20 at 8:00 PM at the Atlas Tube Centre in Lakeshore. The Canadiens enter as the PJHL Stobbs Division Champions and the Lancers as the Yeck Division Champions. The PJHL West Conference Championship doubles as the OHA Schmalz Cup Quarterfinals with the winner of this series moving on to the OHA Schmalz Cup Semifinals against the winner of the PJHL South Conference Championship between the Tavistock Braves and Glanbrook Rangers.

Lakeshore and Lambeth both unseated the defending champions in their respective Division Championship. Lakeshore took down the six-time defending champion Essex 73’s, while the Lambeth Lancers stopped the Dorchester Dolphins run of two straight championships. This is the first time the Lambeth Lancers have advanced this far in franchise history, and the first time for the Canadiens since 2011 when they were the Belle River Canadiens.

Lakeshore Canadiens
The Lakeshore Canadiens finished in first place in the Stobbs Division in the regular season with a record of 27-8-2-3 and are 12-1 so far in the Playoffs. The Canadiens are not an offensive powerhouse, finishing sixth in the Stobbs Division in the regular season with 3.58 goals scored per game, but they are one of the strongest defensive teams in the entire PJHL, holding their opponents to an average of 2.35 goals per game in the regular season, 7th overall and 2nd in the Stobbs Division to the Essex 73’s. 

Offensively, the Canadiens rely on a balanced attack, led by veteran Kyler Carter with 42 points (22G, 20A) in 38 games in the regular season. Overall the Canadiens had five players in double digits in goals for the season. The team’s second leading scorer with 31 points in the regular season is defenceman Colin Sartor who leads the charge from the blue line. So far through 13 playoff games Connor Rosaasen is leading the way with 10 points and is one of nine players with game winning goals for Lakeshore as they’ve received contributions up and down their lineup.

Between the pipes the Canadiens are set with the Division’s top goaltender in Erik Morneau. Morneau joined the Canadiens at the start of the season from the Wheatley Sharks and the veteran has provided spectacular play all season long. He led the Stobbs Division with a 2.14 GAA in the regular season and was 17-5-3 with a .914 SV%. So far in the playoffs his numbers have improved across the board, going 11-1 with 1.77 GAA and .925 SV%. 

On special teams Lakeshore is strong on the penalty kill, in the regular season they were 82.7% and in the playoffs they’ve improved to 85.2%. In the regular season their power play was 19.6% and in the playoffs they are 20.0%.

Lambeth Lancers
The Lambeth Lancers had their best regular season as a Junior C franchise, finishing with a record of 34-5-0-0 to finish in first place in the Yeck Division. They continued their strong play into the playoffs in winning the Yeck Division Championship, going 12-2 in the process. Offensively the Lancers averaged 5.59 goals per game in the regular season; eighth best in the PJHL and their goals against average of 2.28 was sixth best overall. This is a very well balanced team both offensively and defensively. 

Up front the Lancers’ offensive attack is led by Carson Esipu who had a 65 point season (32G, 33A) in 38 games, but he wasn’t alone as five other players averaged over one point per game, including Ray Robbins (58 points). A high-powered offense like Lambeth has to get offensive contributions from the blue line and the Lancers are no exception as d-men Keith Arnold (34 points) and Billy Finney (26 points) lead their attack from the blue line. In the playoffs, Esipu has led the way with 17 points but with Mitchell Jenner (16 points) and Arnold (15 points) right behind him, the Lancers offense has continued to click.

In net the Lancers got an incredible regular season from rookie goaltender Brock MacDonald, who’s numbers were outstanding. In 21 games during the regular season MacDonald was a perfect 20-0 with 7 shutouts and a miniscule 1.49 GAA and .956 SV%. The Lancers managed to improve their depth at the goaltending position in January, adding Zack Weir from the GOJHL’s Strathroy Rockets and the duo of Weir and MacDonald have been sparkling in the playoffs with both playing in 7 games. Weir is 6-1 with 1 shutout and a 1.86 GAA and .947 SV%, while MacDonald has been an equally impressive 6-1 with 2 shutouts and a 2.01 GAA and .941 SV%. 

On special teams, Lambeth had the second best powerplay in the Yeck Division in the regular season at 21.0% and through 14 playoff games they have been running a very similar 21.3%. On the penalty kill the Lancers are equally strong, finishing second in the Yeck at 88.3% which was ninth overall in the PJHL and in the playoffs they have continued at a rate of 88.2%. This is one very consistent and balanced team. 

THE TALE OF THE TAPE

HOW THEY GOT HERE
Lakeshore:
- beat the Blenheim Blades in 4 games in the Stobbs Division Quarterfinals
- beat the Mooretown Flags in 4 games in the Stobbs Division Semifinals
- beat the Essex 73’s in 5 games in the Stobbs Division Finals

Lambeth:
- beat the Aylmer Spitfires in 4 games in the Yeck Division Quarterfinals
- beat the North Middlesex Stars in 5 games in the Yeck Division Semifinals
- beat the Dorchester Dolphins in 5 games in the Yeck Division Finals

LEADING PLAYOFF SCORERS
Lakeshore:
1. Connor Rosaasen 10 PTS (6G, 4A)
2. Matt Smith 9 PTS (6G, 4A)
3. Jarrett Tazzman 8 PTS (5G, 3A)

Lambeth:
1. Carson Esipu 17 PTS (12G, 5A)
2. Mitchell Jenner 16 PTS (6G, 10A)
3. Keith Arnold 15 PTS (2G, 13A)

GOALTENDERS
Lakeshore:
Erik Morneau (13 GP, 11-1, 1.77 GAA, .925 SV%)

Lambeth:
Zack Weir (7 GP, 6-1, 1 SO, 1.86 GAA, .947 SV%)
Brock MacDonald (7 GP, 6-1, 2 SO, 2.01 GAA, .941 SV%)

STATS
Lakeshore: (Regular Season | Playoffs)
Lambeth: (Regular Season | Playoffs)

Click here to view the PJHL West Conference Playoffs Brackets

2018 PJHL WEST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES SCHEDULE:
Game 1: Tue. Mar. 20 at 8:00 PM @ Lakeshore
Game 2: Fri. Mar. 23 at 8:30 PM @ Lambeth
Game 3: Sun. Mar. 25 at 7:30 PM @ Lakeshore
Game 4: Wed. Mar. 28 at 8:30 PM @ Lambeth
*Game 5: Sat. Mar. 31 at 7:30 PM @ Lakeshore
*Game 6: Sun. Apr. 1 at 7:30 PM @ Lambeth
*Game 7: Mon. Apr. 2 at 8:00 PM @ Lakeshore
(* if necessary)