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Canadiens continue to battle through NEAJBHL playoffs

The Canadiens battled through the first round of playoffs, beating the Lloydminster Bandits. They've since won Game 1 in the second round match-up with the Vermilion Tigers.

ST. PAUL - The St. Paul Canadiens are continue to push through their playoff season, making it past the first round, and taking a win in overtime against the Vermilion Tigers on Thursday night. 

The Clancy Richard Arena was packed with fans last Saturday night, as the Canadiens took on the Lloydminster bandits in Game 5 of the first series of North Eastern Alberta Jr. B Hockey (NEAJBHL) playoffs.

The Canadiens were leading the series 3-1 after beating the Bandits on home ice in the first two games of playoffs, then taking a third win in a row on the road. The Bandits battled back for game four, winning 3-2 in double overtime.

The Junior B squad hit the road on Thursday night to take on the Vermilion Tigers in the second round of playoffs, and the game would head into overtime. 

After a scoreless first period, the Tigers would put themselves on the scoreboard early in the second with a power play goal from Landon Petiot. But, the Canadiens would tie things up with a power play goal of their own from Noah Balmer just before the end of the period. 

Heading into the third, the Tigers earned their second of the night with a goal from Matt Hayter, again early in the period. But just past the halfway mark, Logan Higdon would tie things up for the Canadiens and force overtime.

The overtime winner would come from Kelton McAuley with the Canadiens' less than two minutes into the extra period. Goalie Ethin Campbell would take the win with 26 saves on 28 shots for the Canadiens. 

The Canadiens will play in Vermilion for Game 2 on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. They will return to the Clancy Richard Arena for a Tuesday night game at 8 p.m. Game 4 is scheduled for March 10 at 8 p.m. at the Clancy Richard Arena. If Game 5 is required, the team will head back to Vermilion. 

Round one

Last Saturday night, it was a battle back and forth, and the junior hockey players kept fans on the edge of their seats throughout. Scoring first was Lloydminster, with a goal from Chantz Legaarden, but the Canadiens tied the game up less than two minutes later thanks to a goal from Jarett Boulianne, assisted by Liam Boyko and Jacob Leroux.

The Bandits kept up the pressure in the second period, scoring and taking the lead back. But, once again, less than a minute later, Boulianne responded with his second goal, assisted by Boyko and Canadiens' captain Kurtis Labant.

The Bandits regained the lead eight minutes into the period, but the Canadiens once again responded a minute later, this time with a goal from Lucas Martin, assisted by Brennen Riopel and Jonathan Griffiths, tying the game up at 3-3.

The Canadiens then pulled ahead for the first time all game, scoring on the power play thanks to William Chemago, assisted by Louis-David Fournier - who would later turn out to be the hero of the game. 

During the second period, Labant would be ejected from the game following a major penalty for head contact and a game misconduct. Heading into the third period with just a one-goal lead and no captain on the ice, the Canadiens kept battling.

While fighting through a Bandits' power play, an attempt to clear the puck from the Canadiens' zone by Fournier managed to find its way all the way down the ice and through the Bandits' goalie's pads, giving the Canadiens an unexpected two-goal lead.

A power play goal from the Bandits would put the score at 5-4, but the Canadiens would hold on long enough to take the win and the series. 

Canadiens' goalie Ethin Campbell made 14 saves on 18 shots, securing the win for the Canadiens. 

Elsewhere in the league, the Wainwright Bisons are taking on the Killam Wheat Kings, with Killam winning a tight first match on Thursday night, 3-2. The winners from the second round of playoffs will then meet up to battle for the NEAJBHL championship. 


Janice Huser

About the Author: Janice Huser

Janice Huser has been with the St. Paul Journal since 2006. She is a graduate of the SAIT print media journalism program, is originally from St. Paul and has a passion for photography.
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