Dukeshire's goal in overtime wins it for Hanover
ESSEX - The Hanover Barons stormed back from a 4-1, third-period deficit, to defeat the Essex 73's, 5-4, in overtime Saturday afternoon at the Essex Centre Sports Complex, and the 2024-25 Schmalz Cup champions.
Essex finally got some scoring but it wasn't enough as the Barons relentless offensive attack proved too much for the 73's.
Essex seemed to be cruising, outshooting the visiting Barons, 28-17, after two periods, and opening up a three-goal lead heading into the third period.
But an early third period goal by Hanover, followed by two more goals, one while on the powerplay, the other three seconds after another powerplay, tied the game up with still 9:10 remaining in regulation.
Both teams exchanged good scoring opportunities the rest of the way, but this game would eventually need to be decided in overtime.
Essex controlled much of the offensive zone play in the overtime period, and had several great scoring chances, but a mid-period giveaway in the 73's end led to a Hanover goal, and gave the Barons the 5-4 overtime win, and completed a four-game sweep of the 73's.
This was the first time since 2016 that the 73's were swept in a playoff series when they lost to the Ayr Centennials in the OHA semi finals.
Patrick McManus, Gabe Piccolo, Nate Dowling and Santiago Jimenes had the goals for Essex while Hanover had goals from Kyle Maloney, Ryan Colquhoun, Danny Scott, Sam Barrett and Dukeshire.
Hanover goaltender, Derek Hartley, was awarded the playoff MVP.
Hanover one game away from championship
HANOVER - The Hanover Barons defeated the Essex 73's Wednesday night, on home ice, 4-0, and have pushed the 73's to the brink of elimination.
Essex will hope to win on Saturday afternoon to continue the series, and from there, will take it one game at a time. The Barons lead the series, 3-0.
Hanover scored late in the first period to break a scoreless games, and never looked back.
Kyle Maloney, Alex McGillivray, Mark McIntosh and Erick Gulutzen, into the empty net, had the goals for Hanover.
Derek Hartley recorded the shutout in goal for Hanover, stopping 35 shots on goal.
Essex outshot Hanover, 35-25, in front of 1,370 at the P&H Centre.
73's much better but trail Barons in series, 2-0
ESSEX - From the puck drop this game, the Essex 73's were a determined team, ready to play, skating hard, and finishing checks all over the ice. The effort was much better in game two than game one, which ended in a 6-1 loss in Hanover.
Essex made less mistakes and forced many turnovers but just couldn't create enough quality chances, or get enough pucks to the net.
In the end, it was Sam Barrett, again, who had the biggest impact for Hanover, scoring his fifth goal of the series on a breakaway 6:29 into the third period. For Barrett, who had four goals in the series opener, it was his 12th of the playoffs.
Essex kept the foot down and continued to play well, and pulled the goalie with just under 1:30 to play, but Hanover's top scorer, Mark McIntosh, found the empty net with :52 seconds left to give the Barons a two-goal lead.
Essex, with their net still empty, managed a goal off the stick of Matthew Crawford, but it was little too late as they say, as the Barons would go on to win game two, 2-1.
Both goaltenders were sharp in this game, Brogan Calquhoun for Essex, and Derek Hartley for Hanover. Final shots were 25-25.
Essex will travel to Hanover Wednesday night and try to not fall behind 3-0.
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Hanover the hungrier team in game one
HANOVER - The Essex 73’s travelled nearly four hours by bus to Hanover Saturday afternoon, and the home-town Barons, reeling after a game seven series win over Napanee less than 48 hours earlier, were ready for them.
The Barons have not been to the Schmalz Cup finals since 1993, and they, and their fans, were more than hungry.
From the drop of the puck, Hanover forced the 73's to make defensive zone mistakes, and each time they did, the puck seemed to find the back of the 73's net.
Anything that could go wrong in this game for the 73's, did.
Hanover scored two goals in the first five minutes of play, and the 73's Gabe Barrette, got one back a minute-and-a-half later to give Essex some new life, but before the period was over, a late penalty to Patrick McManus of the 73's opened the door for a powerplay goal for Hanover to take as 3-1 lead into the second period.
Before some of the 954 people in attendance could return to their seats, Hanover made it 4-1 just :39 seconds into the period.
Essex played much better the rest of the period, and outshot the Barons, 12-10.
Essex, pushing to score and get the game to within two goals, coughed up the puck once more in their own end and that led to another goal by Hanover with less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation.
Both teams played hard the rest of the way, but Hanover's Sam Barrett would end all hopes for Essex as he scored his fourth goal of the game with just under five minutes to play to seal a first-game win for the Barons, 6-1.
Essex will look to regroup and even the series tonight in Essex. Game time is 7:00pm.
73's advance to the Schmalz Cup finals
NEW HAMBURG - The Essex 73's won for the 12th time in a row on the road, and have advanced to the Schmalz Cup finals with a 2-1 win over the New Hamburg Firebirds.
Essex wins the series, 4-1 and will now face the winner of Napanee and Hanover. Napanee leads that series, 3-2.
This will be Essex' record 15th Schmalz Cup appearance, and they will be looking for their 8th provincial championship.
The Firebirds opened the scoring in the first period on a goal by Jake Thompson, on the powerplay. This was the fourth game of the five played that the Firebirds opened the scoring.
Essex would get a powerplay of their own shortly after that goal, and Austin Guevremnt would score his 8th goal of the playoffs to knot the game at one.
Before all the fans could get back to their seats for the second period, Luke Sherk scored his 13th goal of the playoffs to give Essex a 2-1 lead just 1:16 into the period.
Essex had plenty of chances the rest of the way to open up the game, and hit a few goal posts, but could not get another goal, and neither could New Hamburg. Like the 73's had done the last four games of the series, they contained the Firebirds offensively and played a smart defensive game enroute to the victory.
Brogan Colquhoun was strong in goal again for the 73's.
Check back after the Napanee-Hanover series for the Schmalz Cup Finals schedule.
