By: Chris McLachlin, OHA Media
Photos: Spencer Smye Photogaphy & @SGL247Media

OHA SCHMALZ CUP: GLANBROOK VS LAMBETH SEMIFINAL PREVIEW
Glanbrook Rangers (38-3-0-1) vs Lambeth Lancers (34-5-0-0)

The 2018 OHA Schmalz Cup Semifinal Series between the Glanbrook Rangers and the Lambeth Lancers pits two teams with a lot of offensive weapons against one another but both teams are capable of playing strong defensively with solid goaltending. Both teams like to score and both teams are accustomed to winning; something has to give. This series gets underway on Thursday, April 5 at the Glanbrook 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 last time the Glanbrook Rangers reached the Schmalz Cup Semifinals was 1999 when they won their third straight OHA Schmalz Cup and this is the first time the Lambeth Lancers have reached the Schmalz Cup Semifinals.

Glanbrook Rangers
The Glanbrook Rangers had another extremely successful season, finishing in first place in the Bloomfield Division with a record of 38-3-0-1, and they were finally able to get past the Grimsby Peach Kings in the Division Championship. The Rangers are one of the offensive powerhouses of the PJHL, scoring 283 goals in 42 games for an average of 6.74 goals per game, 3rd overall in the entire PJHL. The Rangers are not a one-dimensional team however as they had the second lowest goals against average in their division at 2.64, which was 15th best in the PJHL. The Rangers prefer to beat teams with their offense but have the defensive chops to clamp down and keep the other team off the scoreboard as well which they proved last series against the Tavistock Braves.

Up front the Rangers’ offense is led by veteran forward Connor Maitz who topped the Bloomfield Division with 79 points (31G, 48A) in 38 games in the regular season; over two points per game. Maitz’s 31 goals led the way, but the team had six other players score over 20 goals: Mathew Rimac (25), Garnet Batrynchuk (23), Brad Parish (26), Keaton Kewley (27), Noah Matteson (23) and Domenic Procopio (24). The team’s third leading scorer was defenceman Josh Pace who leads the attack from the blue line where he had 53 points (9G, 44A) in 36 games. In 19 playoff games it’s been Rimac leading the way with 31 points (10G, 21A).

Between the pipes the Rangers have two very strong options as veteran Daniel Kocsis was 21-3-0 with a 2.94 GAA and .898 SV% in the regular season while rookie netminder Mitchell Robinson was even better at 17-1-0 with 4 shutouts and a2.06 GAA and .921 SV%. Kocsis has carried the load in the playoffs, playing 16 of the 19 games with a record of 12-3-0 with 1 shutout, a 2.13 GAA and .915 SV%, and he was outstanding in the South Conference Championship against the Tavistock Braves.

Glanbrook’s powerplay in the regular season was almost unstoppable, especially at home where they clicked on the powerplay at an astonishing 43.2%. They were also 29.9% on the road and 36.5% overall; all best in the PJHL. The powerplay has dropped to 26.5% in the playoffs, which is still 3rd best overall behind only the Port Hope Panthers and Stayner Siskins. Their penalty killing was not as dominant as their powerplay, but they were still 23rd overall at 84.1% in the regular season and so far during the playoffs they have improved to 85.1%, 18th overall.

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. Their West Conference Championship series win over the Lakeshore Canadiens made them the first team from the Yeck Division to advance past the Schmalz Cup Quarters and into the Semifinals. 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, the Lancers have received offensive contributions up and down their lineup with Mitchell Jenner leading the way with 23 points (9G, 14A) in 21 games.

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 goaltenders taking turns between the pipes for the Lancers. Weir is 7-4 with 1 shutout and a 2.10 GAA and .943 SV%, while MacDonald has gone 9-1 with 2 shutouts and a 2.05 GAA and .942 SV%. 

On special teams, Lambeth had the second best powerplay in the Yeck Division in the regular season at 21.0% and through 21 playoff games they are at 18.3%. 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 88.5%. This is one very consistent and balanced team. 

THE TALE OF THE TAPE

HOW THEY GOT HERE
Glanbrook:
- beat the Simcoe Storm in 4 games in the Bloomfield Division Quarterfinals
- beat the Dundas Blues in 4 games in the Bloomfield Division Semifinals
- beat the Grimsby Peach Kings in 7 games in the Bloomfield Division Finals
- beat the Tavistock Braves in 4 games in the South Conference Championship

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
- beat the Lakeshore Canadiens in 7 games in the West Conference Championship

LEADING PLAYOFF SCORERS
Glanbrook: 
1. Mathew Rimac 31 PTS (10G, 21A)
2. Noah Matteson 27 PTS (14G, 13A)
3. Connor King 24 PTS (6G, 18A)

Lambeth:
1. Mitchell Jenner 23 PTS (9G, 14A)
2. Carson Esipu 22 PTS (13G, 9A)
3. Ray Robbins 21 PTS (7G, 14A)

GOALTENDERS
Glanbrook: 
Daniel Kocsis (16 GP, 12-3, 1 SO, 2.13 GAA, .915 SV%)
Mitchell Robinson (5 GP, 4-0, 1 SO, 1.44 GAA, .935 SV%)

Lambeth:
Brock MacDonald (10 GP, 9-1, 2 SO, 2.05 GAA, .942 SV%)
Zack Weir (11 GP, 7-4, 1 SO, 2.10 GAA, .943 SV%)

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

Click here for the 2018 PJHL & Schmalz Cup Brackets

2018 OHA SCHMALZ CUP SEMIFINAL SCHEDULE:
GLANBROOK RANGERS VS LAMBETH LANCERS
Game 1: Thu. Apr. 5 at 7:30 PM @ Glanbrook
Game 2: Sat. Apr. 7 at 7:45 PM @ Lambeth (in Komoka)
Game 3: Sun. Apr. 8 at 2:00 PM @ Glanbrook
Game 4: TBA
*Game 5: TBA
*Game 6: TBA
*Game 7: TBA
(* if necessary)

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