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FINALS PREVIEW
2015-07-23
The 2015 Garnet Knight Cup Final matchup is set. The Southwest Hurricanes will face the Northwest Marley Lions in a rematch of last year's final. Click READ MORE for a preview.
FINALS PREVIEW
East Coast Junior Lacrosse League
July 23, 2015
Colin Beiswanger
BELL COMMUNITY ONE LIVE STREAM
After a thrilling 5-game series between the Halifax Northwest Marley Lions and the Dartmouth Bandits, the Lions will now play the 2014 champion Southwest Hurricanes in the 2015 Garnet Knight Cup finals.
The Hurricanes made quick work of first-year team Mi’kmaq Warriors, who were a surprise addition to this year’s playoffs after winning a tiebreaker over rival Sackville Sportwheels Wolves and Moncton Mavericks. The Hurricanes handled the Warriors easily as they did during the 2015 regular season, and will have fresh legs and all their players ready to play in this final series. Luke Smeltzer seems to have taken over offensively, adding 6 pts in Game 1 and 8 pts in Game 2 of the series.
The regulars littered the score-sheet for the Hurricanes, who didn’t miss a beat offensively after scoring 181 goals on offence and finishing second, only behind the Bandits with 186 goals scored.
The number one questions facing the Hurricanes is will their legs be fresh coming off a routine week and five days rest? The same break plagued the Marley Lions a year ago after finishing 1st in regular season standing and playing a young and inexperienced Sackville Wolves team in the first round of the playoffs. The Hurricanes won a similarly rough matchup with the Bandits in 2014 as the Lions faced this season.
The series that everyone was talking about heading into the 2015 playoffs did not disappoint, with the Northwest Marley Lions finishing the Dartmouth Bandits in Double OT in the fifth and deciding game of their semi-final matchup.
Despite playing on the losing end of the matchup, Trey Carvery very well could be considered the MVP of the ECJLL semis, potting 19 points (14 G 5 A) over the 5-game span. Not to be outdone, Paddy Quinn nearly matched Carvery with 17 points (12 G 5 A), including five goals in Game 5.
As Bill McLean of Bell Community One mentioned in his broadcast of Game 5, a series usually comes down to your best players peaking at the right time. League Offensive MVP John MacDonald notched nine points (2 G 7A) in the final game, and along with Quinn, new addition Robbie Grant, and goal-scoring champ Chris Walker all made their presence known on the game-sheet.
The Bandits strategy was relatively obvious but tended to baffle the Lions at times. Coach Mitch Hannigan relied all season upon a bruising defence, good goaltending, and an up-tempo transition game to carry the team. It was no different in the playoffs against the Lions, who despite losing all three regular season contests, managed to do just enough to take the series.
Coach Tyler James must be pleased with the way his team responded to losing both Defensive MVP Gee Clarke in Game 3, and Senior Gavin Quigley in Game 5. The Lions goaltending and defense shined at moments, and it will be critical they find this glimmer often during the 5-game final.
Look for the Hurricanes coaching staff to key on the Lions core offensive talent, and to rely on a balanced offensive attack and simply outscore the Lions on offence. Secondary scoring for the Lions had bright moments in the series against Dartmouth in Games 2 and 3, but cannot be relied upon to win a series. This secondary scoring however will be crucial to the Lions success with the ankle injury to Gavin Quigley.
The Lions must stay disciplined on defense, particularly on the left side, where much of the Hurricanes offense starts and ends. The Lions must rely on the game plan that won them the first two meetings against the Hurricanes of timely goal-scoring and solid overall play.
It’s hard to predict this series given how different both teams paths were to the championship series. The Lions are hardened and relentless, and the Hurricanes are fresh and able-bodied. Despite a sweep at the hands of the Hurricanes a season ago, look for this season to be dead even. Both teams traded jabs back and forth in the regular season, but don’t expect the final blow to come until either Game 4 or 5 of this series.
East Coast Junior Lacrosse League
July 23, 2015
Colin Beiswanger
BELL COMMUNITY ONE LIVE STREAM
After a thrilling 5-game series between the Halifax Northwest Marley Lions and the Dartmouth Bandits, the Lions will now play the 2014 champion Southwest Hurricanes in the 2015 Garnet Knight Cup finals.
The Hurricanes made quick work of first-year team Mi’kmaq Warriors, who were a surprise addition to this year’s playoffs after winning a tiebreaker over rival Sackville Sportwheels Wolves and Moncton Mavericks. The Hurricanes handled the Warriors easily as they did during the 2015 regular season, and will have fresh legs and all their players ready to play in this final series. Luke Smeltzer seems to have taken over offensively, adding 6 pts in Game 1 and 8 pts in Game 2 of the series.
The regulars littered the score-sheet for the Hurricanes, who didn’t miss a beat offensively after scoring 181 goals on offence and finishing second, only behind the Bandits with 186 goals scored.
The number one questions facing the Hurricanes is will their legs be fresh coming off a routine week and five days rest? The same break plagued the Marley Lions a year ago after finishing 1st in regular season standing and playing a young and inexperienced Sackville Wolves team in the first round of the playoffs. The Hurricanes won a similarly rough matchup with the Bandits in 2014 as the Lions faced this season.
The series that everyone was talking about heading into the 2015 playoffs did not disappoint, with the Northwest Marley Lions finishing the Dartmouth Bandits in Double OT in the fifth and deciding game of their semi-final matchup.
Despite playing on the losing end of the matchup, Trey Carvery very well could be considered the MVP of the ECJLL semis, potting 19 points (14 G 5 A) over the 5-game span. Not to be outdone, Paddy Quinn nearly matched Carvery with 17 points (12 G 5 A), including five goals in Game 5.
As Bill McLean of Bell Community One mentioned in his broadcast of Game 5, a series usually comes down to your best players peaking at the right time. League Offensive MVP John MacDonald notched nine points (2 G 7A) in the final game, and along with Quinn, new addition Robbie Grant, and goal-scoring champ Chris Walker all made their presence known on the game-sheet.
The Bandits strategy was relatively obvious but tended to baffle the Lions at times. Coach Mitch Hannigan relied all season upon a bruising defence, good goaltending, and an up-tempo transition game to carry the team. It was no different in the playoffs against the Lions, who despite losing all three regular season contests, managed to do just enough to take the series.
Coach Tyler James must be pleased with the way his team responded to losing both Defensive MVP Gee Clarke in Game 3, and Senior Gavin Quigley in Game 5. The Lions goaltending and defense shined at moments, and it will be critical they find this glimmer often during the 5-game final.
Look for the Hurricanes coaching staff to key on the Lions core offensive talent, and to rely on a balanced offensive attack and simply outscore the Lions on offence. Secondary scoring for the Lions had bright moments in the series against Dartmouth in Games 2 and 3, but cannot be relied upon to win a series. This secondary scoring however will be crucial to the Lions success with the ankle injury to Gavin Quigley.
The Lions must stay disciplined on defense, particularly on the left side, where much of the Hurricanes offense starts and ends. The Lions must rely on the game plan that won them the first two meetings against the Hurricanes of timely goal-scoring and solid overall play.
It’s hard to predict this series given how different both teams paths were to the championship series. The Lions are hardened and relentless, and the Hurricanes are fresh and able-bodied. Despite a sweep at the hands of the Hurricanes a season ago, look for this season to be dead even. Both teams traded jabs back and forth in the regular season, but don’t expect the final blow to come until either Game 4 or 5 of this series.