By: Chris McLachlin, OHA Media
Photos: J. Visca & Ashley Smith

EAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
Lakefield Chiefs (34-4-1-3) vs Port Hope Panthers (27-9-0-1)

The 2018 PJHL East Conference Championship Series between the Lakefield Chiefs and the Port Hope Panthers starts on Tuesday, March 20 at 7:30 PM at the Lakefield-Smith Community Centre in Lakefield. The Chiefs enter as the PJHL Orr Division Champions and the Panthers as the Tod Division Champions. The PJHL East 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 North Conference Championship between the Stayner Siskins and the Mount Forest Patriots.

This is a rematch of last year’s East Conference Championship which was won by the Port Hope Panthers in six games. Port Hope reached the OHA Schmalz Cup Finals, losing to the Ayr Centennials in six games. 

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 9 playoff games it has been McIntyre and Vatcher leading the way for the Chiefs with 16 and 14 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 9 games with a record of 8-1 and 1.89 GAA and .938 SV%.

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 so far in the playoffs they have improved to 27.7%. 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 76.1%.

Port Hope Panthers
The Port Hope Panthers finished the regular season with a record of 27-9-0-1, second place to the Napanee Raiders who were upset in the Tod Division semifinals by the Amherstview Jets. The Panthers were one of the top offenses in the PJHL this season, scoring on average 6.49 goals per game, good enough for fourth best overall. Along with their goal scoring prowess, the Panthers were also one of the stingiest teams on defense, allowing only 2.41 goals against per game, which was eighth best in the PJHL (out of 63). Much like the Chiefs, the Panthers are a well-balanced team offensively and defensively and can beat teams in different ways.

Offensively the Panthers are extremely talented with eight players who averaged over a point per game in the regular season, led by Cameron Harris’ 65 points (29G, 36A) in 37 games. Harris also led the team in goals with 29, but four other players scored 20 or more, including Dayton Kent (21), Kallen McFarland (25), Graham Dickerson (26) and Evan Foley (20). Blueliners Cameron McGill (44 points) and Nathan Snoek (32 points) provide offense from a very effective defensive core. Through two rounds of playoffs, it was defenceman McGill leading the way with 18 points for the Panthers as the team’s Captain averaged two points per game.

In the regular season the Panthers juggled a number of goaltenders in and out of their lineup, looking for the right backup for starter Sheldon Calbury who had another solid season with a record of 11-6-0 and a GAA of 2.73 and SV% of .905. So far in the playoffs Calbury has split duties with newcomer Spyros Koskinas. In five games Calbury is 4-1 with a 2.45 GAA and .912 SV%, while Koskinas is 4-0 in four games and a 3.50 GAA and .879 SV%.

In the regular season the Panthers had the second best powerplay in the Tod Division at 23.7% (12th overall) and their powerplay has been really clicking so far in the playoffs to the tune of 38.6%. Likewise, the Panthers’ penalty killing was strong in the regular season at 84.2% (22nd overall), and they’ve stayed fairly consistent so far in the playoffs at 82.1%.

THE TALE OF THE TAPE

HOW THEY GOT HERE
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

Port Hope:
- beat the Picton Pirates in 4 games in the Tod Division Semifinals
- beat the Amherstview Jets in 5 games in the Tod Division Finals

LEADING PLAYOFF SCORERS
Lakefield:
1. Matthew McIntyre 16 PTS (4G, 12A)
2. Aaron Vatcher 14 PTS (8G, 6A) 
3. Jeff Hawthorne 13 PTS (7G, 6A)

Port Hope: 
1. Cameron McGill 18 PTS (4G, 14A)
2. Dayton Kent 16 PTS (7G, 9A)
3. Evan Foley 14 PTS (8G, 6A)

GOALTENDERS:
Lakefield: 
Michael Christie (9 GP, 8-1, 1.89 GAA, .938 SV%)

Port Hope:
Sheldon Calbury (5 GP, 4-1, 2.45 GAA, .912 SV%)
Spyros Koskinas (4 GP, 4-0, 3.50 GAA, .879 SV%)

STATS
Lakefield: (Regular Season | Playoffs)
Port Hope: (Regular Season | Playoffs)

Click here to view the PJHL East Conference Playoffs Brackets

2018 PJHL EAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES SCHEDULE:
Game 1: Tue. Mar. 20 at 7:30 PM @ Lakefield
Game 2: Thu. Mar. 22 at 7:30 PM @ Port Hope
Game 3: Sat. Mar. 24 at 7:30 PM @ Lakefield
Game 4: Tue. Mar. 27 at 7:30 PM @ Port Hope
*Game 5: Thu. Mar. 29 at 7:30 PM @ Lakefield
*Game 6: Sat. Mar. 31 at 7:30 PM @ Port Hope
*Game 7: Sun. Apr. 1 at 1:30 PM @ Lakefield
(* if necessary)

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