Canadiens find a way in OT to extend series to Game 6
ESSEX - Game 5 of the Provincial Junior Hockey League Stobbs Division final delivered everything expected of a tight playoff battle, as the Lakeshore Canadiens edged the Essex 73's 3–2 in overtime Friday night at the Essex Centre Sports Complex. With the win, Essex still leads the series 3–2, but Lakeshore forced the series back home with a resilient performance in front of 1,135 fans.
Lakeshore, facing elimination and playing with their backs against the wall, came out with urgency and matched Essex’s pace throughout the contest. The Canadiens generated consistent pressure and ultimately outshot Essex 30–24, controlling stretches of play and capitalizing when it mattered most.
The opening period saw both teams trade chances early. Lakeshore struck first at 3:53 when Brandon Leblanc found the back of the net to give the visitors a quick advantage. Essex responded later in the period at 12:04 as Carter Dembinski tied the game, setting the tone for a tightly contested matchup.
The second period remained competitive, with Lakeshore reclaiming the lead late. Leblanc scored his second of the night at 18:40, sending the Canadiens into the third period up by a goal.
Essex answered in the third, tying the game at 10:23 on a power-play marker from Jack Lewis, keeping their hopes alive and forcing overtime.
In the extra frame, Lakeshore’s persistence paid off. Julian Gignac buried the game-winning goal at 3:11 of overtime, sealing the victory and extending the series.
Boe Piroski stood tall in net for Lakeshore, while Birk Cassels handled goaltending duties for Essex in a game that remained tight from start to finish.
With the series now at 3–2, Essex will look to close things out, while Lakeshore will aim to even the series when the teams meet again Tuesday night in Lakeshore.
Sherk's late goal gets 73's 1 game away from title win
LAKESHORE - The Essex 73's are now one win away from advancing after edging the Lakeshore Canadiens 4–3 in a hard-fought Game 4 Friday night in Lakeshore.
With the victory, Essex takes a commanding 3–1 lead in the Provincial Junior Hockey League Stobbs Division final and will have a chance to punch their ticket to the Schmalz Cup round with a win Sunday afternoon back on home ice.
Lakeshore struck first late in the opening period when Nicholas Graniero continued his strong series, giving the Canadiens a 1–0 lead. But Essex responded early in the second, as Cael McCabe evened things up just 1:27 into the frame on a beauty tip from a Luke Sherk shot..
Graniero restored the Lakeshore lead midway through the period with his second of the night, but once again the 73’s had an answer. Wyatt Goudie buried the equalizer late in the second on a backhand shot to send the teams into the third period tied 2–2.
The visitors took their first lead of the game early in the third, with William Claridge converting on the power play to make it 3–2 Essex. Lakeshore refused to go away, however, as Conor Costello found the back of the net with just over four minutes remaining to tie the game at three.
But in a dramatic finish, Luke Sherk delivered the game-winner with just 2:15 left on the clock, re-directing a Jaxen Fortier-Smith shot off his leg past goaltender Boe Piroski.
Goaltender Tomas Kniaziew stood tall for Essex, turning aside 22 shots, while Piroski made 27 saves in a yet another strong effort for Lakeshore. Essex held a 31–25 edge in shots on goal.
Now, with momentum firmly on their side, the 73’s head home with a chance to close out the series and continue their pursuit of a Schmalz Cup championship.
Lakeshore avoids going down 3-0 in league final
ESSEX - The rivalry between the Essex 73's and the Lakeshore Canadiens delivered another electric chapter Tuesday night, as the Canadiens surged past Essex 6–3 in Game 3, trimming the series deficit to 2–1 in front of 912 fans.
From the opening puck drop, the pace was relentless. Lakeshore struck first at 6:19 of the opening period off the stick of Jordan Maine, silencing the home crowd early. But Essex answered just over a minute later when Austin Guevremont buried his ninth of the playoffs, igniting the building and setting the tone for a back-and-forth battle.
Midway point of the second period is where this game flipped on its head.
After William Claridge gave Essex a 2–1 lead early in the frame, it looked like the 73’s were beginning to take control. But in a stunning sequence, Lakeshore exploded for three goals in just 2:48. Brody Jones started the surge, Julian Gignac followed moments later, and Jones struck again on the power play to suddenly put the Canadiens ahead 4–2.
Just like that, momentum — and the game — swung dramatically.
Essex refused to go quietly. Late in the second, Guevremont struck again on the power play to cut the deficit to 4–3, setting up a thrilling third period.
And what a push it was.
The 73’s came out flying in the final frame, throwing everything they had at Lakeshore goaltender Boe Piroski. Shot after shot poured in — 21 in the third period alone — as Essex dominated possession in the first two-thirds of the periof, and pressed relentlessly for the equalizer. But Piroski stood tall, turning aside chance after chance in a performance that defined the night.
At the other end, Birk Cassels did his best to keep Essex within striking distance, but Lakeshore capitalized late. Kyle Greene added an insurance marker with under five minutes remaining, and Michael Kopcok sealed the victory into an empty net.
Despite outshooting Lakeshore 43–22, Essex couldn’t solve Piroski when it mattered most.
Now, with the series at 2–1, the battle between these longtime rivals is far from over — and if Game 3 was any indication, the intensity is only just beginning to boil over.
73's win penalty-filled road game, 4-1
LAKESHORE - Sunday afternoon in Lakeshore had all the tension of a rivalry - but it was the Essex 73’s who delivered the knockout third period, skating away with a 4–1 victory over the Canadiens to take a 2–0 lead in the Stobbs Division final.
This one, however, didn’t come clean.
The game was marred by a parade to the penalty box on both sides, disrupting any real rhythm and turning momentum into a fragile, ever-shifting thing. Special teams loomed large early, and Lakeshore struck first on the power play late in the opening frame as Brandon Leblanc buried his fifth of the playoffs at 14:58, giving the Canadiens a 1–0 edge and igniting the home crowd.
The second period came and went without a goal, but not without intensity - and more penalties. Hits were finished, scrums followed whistles, and both teams struggled to generate sustained offense amid the constant penalties.
Goaltenders Birk Cassels and Boe Piroski stood tall, holding the line as the tension built toward the third.
And then Essex found another level.
Just 1:08 into the final frame, Luke Sherk broke through to tie the game, flipping the momentum entirely. The 73’s didn’t let up. At 5:50, Gabe Barrette struck to give Essex their first lead, and suddenly the Canadiens were on their heels.
The pressure kept mounting.
Midway through the period, with another power play opportunity, Noah Mathieson extended the lead to 3–1, capitalizing on a Lakeshore penalty that proved costly. Essex was now in full control—structured, confident, and relentless.
As the clock ticked down, Lakeshore pulled the goaltender in a last-ditch effort, but Carter Dembinski sealed it with an empty-net goal at 18:11, putting an exclamation mark on a dominant third period.
Cassels was sharp when it mattered most, turning aside 19 of 20 shots, while Piroski made 26 saves in a losing effort as Essex’s offensive push overwhelmed late.
Now, with back-to-back wins to open the series, the 73’s head home with momentum firmly in their grasp—while the Canadiens are left trying to solve a way to get back in the series before things get too far out of reach.
Cassels shuts door on Canadiens; Barrette nets lone goal
ESSEX - If Game 1 is any indication, the Stobbs Division Finals between the Essex 73’s and Lakeshore Canadiens is going to be a war.
In front of a crowd of 1,019 at the Essex Centre Sports Complex on Friday night, the longtime county rivals delivered a tight, hard-checking playoff opener that had everything—except goals. In the end, it took just one.
Overager Gabe Barrette proved to be the difference-maker, burying the game’s only goal with 7:29 remaining in the third period to lift Essex to a 1-0 victory and an early series lead.
Barrette’s fifth of the postseason came off a setup from Travis Rivest and Jack Lewis, finally breaking through in what had been a goaltending clinic on both ends of the ice.
Birk Cassels was sensational between the pipes for the 73’s, turning aside 32 shots for the shutout. At the other end, Boe Piroski (24 shots) matched him save-for-save for much of the night, as both netminders delivered composed, high-level performances under pressure.
From the opening puck drop, it was clear neither team would give an inch. The first period served as a feeling-out process, with both sides playing structured, mistake-free hockey. That tone carried into the second and third periods, where the intensity ramped up but the space remained limited.
Lakeshore generated slightly more offensive chances as the game wore on, but Cassels stood tall, making several key stops at critical moments to preserve the deadlock.
Special teams offered little separation, with both clubs going 0-for-2 on the power play.
With time winding down, the Canadiens pulled their goalie in a last-ditch effort to find the equalizer, but Essex’s defensive core held firm, sealing the shutout in front of an energized home crowd.
It was playoff hockey at its finest—disciplined, physical, and razor-thin in margin. And if this opener is any sign, fans can expect more of the same as the series unfolds.
Footnote:
Earlier in the evening, Essex head coach Tony Piroski was honoured by the Provincial Junior Hockey League as the league’s Coach of the Year. One of the most successful bench bosses in Junior ‘C’ history, Piroski has captured three Schmalz Cups over his decorated career.
Essex 73's President, Leo Viselli (left), and PJHL Stobbs Division Convener, Mark Hagerman (right), present 73's coach, Tony Piroski, with 2025-26 Coach of the Year for the PJHL. (Photo Dan De Zorzi)
