GOJHL WEEKEND PREVIEW
Welcome hockey fans to the first installment of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey Leagues Weekend Preview. This season we will be giving sneak previews and a little of our office insight into all of the games that will be taking place over the course of our 2009-2010 schedule.
This first weekend will be a crazy one as we have plenty of hockey to watch. With 18 games being played in three nights, we have a lot of hockey to talk about.
Game one has Port Colborne Pirates traveling up the QEW to face off against the St. Catharines Falcons. Pre-season action had the Falcon's easily defeating the Pirates by the score of 6-1. Look for Pirates head coach Keith Osborne to have his team ready to play this evening; we all know pre season means nothing. Game time action begins at 7:30pm at the Jack Gatecliff arena.
After a solid 2008-09 campaign that saw the Stoney Creek Warriors go all the way to the Southerland Cup finals, they will be looking to repeat their strong performance. Heading into Niagara Falls to face the Canucks who were strong, finishing 3-2 in pre-season play, the Warriors will be looking to prove that last year was not just a fluke. Puck drops at 7:30pm in the Memorial arena in Niagara Falls.
New head coach Ryan Darcy will have something to prove tonight as he takes his young Cambridge Winterhawks team into Listowel tonight to face the speedy Cyclones. The Winterhawks will defiantly have their hands full against the Cyclones who finished their very impressive pre-season with a 4-0 record. This will be a battle on the ice, as both teams want to make a name for them selves right off the opening face off. Game time is scheduled for 7:30pm at the Listowel Arena.
Last years Sutherland Cup Champion Brantford Golden Eagles, riding high after a very successful 2008-09 season will be looking to show last year was not just luck. Facing off against the always-dangerous Stratford Cullitons the Eagles will be looking to spoil a home opener. After finishing with a 1-3 pre-season record the Cullitons are hoping that they can turn those losses into wins, they'll have their work cut out for them this evening. Opening face off is at 7:30pm at the Allman Arena.
St. Mary's Lincolns will be ready to go tonight as they host the Strathroy Rockets. Both teams finished pre-season with identical records and if tonight's game is like their pre-season this one could end up going into overtime. Lincolns head coach Merlin Malinoski and Rockets head coach Mike Bondy will have both their respective teams ready to go. Game time is set for this evening at 7:45pm.
The Lambton Shores Predators will be looking to open their first game at home tonight with a "W" against the Chatham Maroons. The Maroons enter their 50th season with high hopes of a Sutherland Cup Championship. The Predators finished their pre-season 0-4 and want desperately to avoid that sort of record this season. Game time for this match up is 8:00pm at The Shores Recreation Centre.
The Winterhawks will have no time to rest this weekend after their first game Friday night they will play host to the always-dangerous Kitchener Dutchman. The Dutchman will be looking to spoil the Winterhawks home opener. With new additions to the their line up the Dutchman will be looking to make another charge in the post season. They need to get through the Winterhawks first. Puck drops tomorrow night (Sat. 12) at 7:00pm at the Galt Arena.
Celebrating their 50th season the Maroons will have a celebration ceremony before their game tomorrow night (Sept. 12) against the big physical London Nationals. London boasts a solid line up and will be looking to spoil the party in Chatham. Head Coach Adam Casey will have his boys ready to fly well before the ceremony begins. With the pre-game celebrations planned the Maroons will definitely be in fine form. This match up will be awesome. Game starts tomorrow (Sept. 12) at 7:00pm at the Chatham Memorial Arena.
The Welland Canadians open their season on the road tomorrow night (Sept. 12) against the Pirates in Port Colborne. Both teams will be looking for a strong start and with the Pirates hot off their first game Welland could have the chance to take an early lead. Both teams will have their game faces on however as they're coaching staff is not new to opening game jitters. Game time is set for 7:30pm at the West Side Arena.
The Leamington Flyers and the Strathroy Rockets will no doubt be putting on a show tomorrow evening (Sept. 12)/. The Rockets will be playing second game in as many nights and the Flyers will have fresh legs. It's any ones guess who the victor will be. Game time is set for 7:30pm at the Gemini Arena.
The Elmira Sugar Kings will head down the road to face off against the newly named Guelph Hurricanes (formerly the Dominators). Both squads will be ready for a victory as their pre-season match up had the Sugar Kings coming out on top 6-5 in a shoot out. Two equally matched teams will make for a solid game to watch. Puck drops tomorrow evening (Sept. 12) at 7:30 in the Sleeman Centre.
The Falcons will face off against the Warriors in a match up that promises to be a battle on the ice tomorrow night (Sept. 12) in Stoney Creek. Two strong squads will play till the bitter end in both teams second game of the regular season. Over time is a defiant possibility. Game time is 7:30 at Valley Park in Stoney Creek.
The Waterloo Warriors kick off their 75th season Saturday night when they travel to Brantford to face the defending champions. Waterloo will have a solid line up this season and hope to spoil Brantford's banner raising ceremony that is sure to be a good show. The Golden Eagles are no doubt ready for a battle in their own barn. Opening face off is scheduled for 7:30pm at the Brantford Civic Centre.
The Fort Erie Meteors are hoping that their pre-season match up against the Canucks was just luck as they host the squad from Niagara Falls tomorrow night (Sept. 12) in Fort Erie. When the two teams met in pre-season 9-2 was the outcome and that can't sit well with the boys from Fort Erie. Game time is set for 7:45 at the Leisure Plex Arena.
The final game of Saturday evening features the LaSalle Vipers against the home team Predators. The Vipers will be looking for a win as they finished their pre-season with a 3-1 record. The Pred's however will be playing their home opener that they won't be willing to give up without a fight. Action starts at 7:45pm.
The Sugar Kings open their new arena Sunday afternoon when they host the Siskins in a game that will be played at a high pace. The new rink is a marvel to be looked at and the Sugar Kings will be out to show they don't just play in a fine facility; they play a solid game too. The Siskins are hoping to spoil plans and will be looking to make their mark on the new rink early on in the game. Puck drops at 2:00pm at the new Woolwich Arena.
The Sarnia Legionnaires will kick off their new season on the road when they head into St. Thomas to face the Stars. Sarnia had a very good 2008-09 season in which they made their way to the Sutherland Cup round robin. In order to produce a record like they did last year, they'll have to get through the Stars first. When these to squads met in pre-season the Legionnaires just managed to edge the Stars 5-4 in a close game. We'll see what the outcome is Sunday 13th when the puck drops at 7:00pm at the St. Thomas Civic Centre.
The Thorold Blackhawks open their season Sunday night (13th) when they travel into their rival Welland Canadians arena. Thorold lost both pre-season match ups against the Canadians, the first game was 6-1 and the second was 5-1. With the Canadians seemingly having their opponent's number it will be interesting to see what Thorold has planned. The Puck drops on this match up at 7:05pm at the Welland Main Arena.
Last but not least the Cyclones will be heading into Stratford on Sunday evening (13th) to face their rivals in Stratford. Both teams have speed and size and this game is sure to be fast past and hard hitting. Game time is scheduled for 7:30pm at the Allman Arena.
With 18 games to start off the GOJHL weekend this season promises to be the best one yet. I hope your all ready for high paced, hard-hitting action. May the best teams win!
