Lions oust defending champs in sweep

BY MICHAEL PIASETZKI

Relying on offence, the Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League Lac St. Louis Lions swept their best-of-five series last week against defending league champion Châteauguay Patriotes in three straight games.

Thanks to a stunning upset by the Amos Foresters in their series against first-place Laval-Bourassa Rousseau Sports, head coach Danny Dupont’s troops now move on to play the Collège Charles-Lemoyne Riverains in a best-of-seven division semifinal series that began last night in Ste. Catherine. Game two takes place tonight at the Dollard Civic Centre at 7:30 with game three taking place Friday night in Ste. Catherine. Game four goes Saturday at the Civic Centre at 7:30 p.m.

Who should ever be surprised when the Lions and Riverains meet in a playoff series? The two clubs have clashed in post-season play four out of the past six years, and history is not on the Lions’ side. The Riverains defeated them each time. Here then is a capsule look at the Lions three-game victory over the Pats.

Game 1: Lions 4 Pats 3 (Overtime)

After splitting their regular-season series two games apiece, the two rivals opened up last Tuesday night at the Dollard Civic Centre. Special teams proved to be the difference on the night. The Pats failed to capitalize on eight opportunities while the Lions scored two power-play markers.

Forward Francis Drolet game the Lions a 1-0 first-period lead with a power-play marker before the Pats tied it up on a Corey Dawson marker heading into the second. The Pats dominated the middle frame, taking a 3-1 lead into the third before Lions forward Louis Leblanc scored with the man advantage to narrow the gap to one two minutes in. Over a minute later, Matthew Whitaker tied it up at 3-3 before Drolet notched the overtime winner at 2:05. Alex Peck, who played most of the season with the midget espoir Webster Academy Royals, started in goal for the Lions.

Game 2: Lions 8 Pats 6

Eight different players, including Leblanc, Nicholas McIntyre, Christopher Reiss, Drolet, Mathieu Gingras, Alan Klabanskyj, Kyle Hunchberger and Joseph Campanelli scored to lead the Lions last Wednesday night. Poor defensive play haunted the Pats all night.

The Lions led 4-3 after the first period, 6-5 after the second before Hunchberger’s tally early in the third put them up 7-5 and they never looked back. Peck started in goal but Marc-André Payment, a former Patriot finished up.

“We don’t want to get into offensive showdowns,” said Dupont afterwards. “But we do have a balanced scoring attack if we have to. Our guys are realistic, though. They know the Pats scored six goals tonight, and they’ll be prepared for Friday night.”

Game 3: Lions 8 Pats 5

Another offensive explosion by the Lions and yet another solid performance by Drolet who scored two goals and added a pair of assists as the Lions pulled out the broom on Friday night. With the score tied 5-5 with four minutes to left to play, overtime loomed. But Whitaker’s power-play goal at 16:05 gave the Lions a 6-5 lead before Drolet scored two straight, including another empty-netter to seal the deal.

Benjamin Power, McIntyre, Campanelli, Spiro Goulakos, Adam Strumas and Whitaker added singles for the Lions. Payment started but Peck relieved him.

“I’m just working hard out there,” said Drolet. “You know, this was a close series despite the fact we won three straight. It certainly wasn’t a goaltenders’ series.”