Essex remains unbeaten on the road in playoffs
























NEW HAMBURG - The Essex 73’s played a solid defensive game Wednesday night in New Hamburg, and capitalized when it mattered most, to take a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-seven Schmalz Cup semi-finals.

With the 3-1 win, the 73's remain unbeaten (11-0)  in the 2025 playoffs while on the road.

Gabe Piccolo tied it on a re-direct, and Patrick McManus scored with just one tick left on the clock in the second period to lead the 73's offensively.

Luke Sherk had the game-clinching empty net goal to go along with an assist on the night.

For New Hamburg, who struggled to gain the 73's zone much of the night, they had less good scoring opportunities than the game before, as Matt Domm was the only one to find the back of the net late in the first period.
 
Brogan Colquhoun was dialed in making 21 saves for the win, while his counterpart, Deklan Jermol, made 32 saves.

The series shifts back to Essex Friday night. Game time is 7:30pm.

73's even series with gutsy 2-1 road win





















NEW HAMBURG - Essex went into New Hamburg Monday night and picked up a well deserved road win to even the Schmalz Semi-Final series, 1-1.

Gabe Piccolo broke a tie midway into the second period, and Brogan Coquhoun made 20 saves, including a penalty shot late in the third period, to help the 73's to victory.

The series returns to New Hamburg Wednesday night.

Tyler Fleming scored from the point in the first period on a 73's powerplay, and New Hamburg's, Owen Bruder, returned the favour 2:56 into the second period on a Firebirds' powerplay.

That set the stage up for Piccolo who scored on a wrap-around at 13:15 of the second period, and that would be all the scoring needed.
Essex out shot the Firebirds in this one, 33-21.

New Hamburg wins opener, 2-1 in overtime

ESSEX - Jordan Jacobs busted around Essex defenceman, Ryan Basile, and rifled a shot past goaltender Brogan Colquhoun just :50 seconds into overtime to propel the New Hamburg Firebirds to a 2-1 overtime victory. 

New Hamburg takes game one and leads the series, 1-0, with the next three-of-four games to be played in New Hamburg.

Credit the Firebirds on this night, who were coming off a seven-game series with the Grimsby Peach Kings just two nights before, but showed much more step in their game than that of the Essex 73's for much of the night.

Essex, hoping to catch New Hamburg tired after their long series with Grimsby, started out flat and rusty, likely the result of having over a week off since they last played.

After an opening period in which Essex was outshot 6-4, New Hamburg scored on the powerplay just 2:27 into the second period on a goal-mouth scramble goal by Jack MacDonald. 

Essex started to play much better in the middle of the game, and would score to tie the game 1-1 on a shot from the point by 73's defenceman, Seth Martineau.

They would come close again a couple more times before the period would end, hitting the goal post on one occasion.

The third period was much of the same, as both teams traded some chances, but Essex was certainly playing much better, and the Firebirds were starting to tire.

In the overtime, with fresh ice and legs, Essex had a glorious opportunity early but Firebirds' goaltender, Deklan Jermol, came up big and kicked out the redirected shot. The puck turned over and Jacobs found himself with the puck on an odd-man rush, and caught the 73's d-man flat-footed, and ended the game on a beauty of a shot over the catching glove of Coquhoun. 

New Hamburg outshot the 73's, 31-24.

Game two is Monday night in New Hamburg at 7:30pm. Essex is a perfect 7-0 on the road this playoff season while the Firebirds 10-4 on home ice in the playoffs.