The Elmira Sugar Kings were the number one team this year in the GOJHL regular season. They won the Cherrey Cup in triumphant fashion. So when they jumped out to a 2-0 series lead on the LaSalle Vipers in the Sutherland Cup semifinals, it looked like a trip to the finals was a safe bet.
However, in sports, things aren’t always as they seem. Despite winning the first 2 games by identical 7-2 score-lines, the Kings began to stray away from their game as the series wore on. It culminated in a disappointing 3-1 Game 7 loss on home ice Sunday night.
LaSalle got started quickly, scoring twice within the first 5 minutes, quieting a raucous and packed Dan Snyder Memorial Arena. The Kings wouldn’t strike until midway through the 2nd period, and looked to be gaining back their dominant form, posting 21 shots in the second frame alone.
But, despite the late surge and the 37 total shots fired at the LaSalle net, the Kings surrendered the killer empty net goal with 34 seconds left to bow out of this year’s Sutherland Cup playoffs.
After the game, head coach Jeff Flanagan spoke about the disappointing end to the season, but noted the season as a whole was a big success. After finishing 1st overall in the regular season, the Sugar Kings cruised to a Cherrey Cup championship, and had numerous players given awards at the GOJHL banquet.
Flanagan noted that “many of our players are going to move on to a higher level next year, be it OHL, NCAA or CIS, a lot of these guys who aren’t out of the age group will go on to compete at higher levels next year for sure. That is an accomplishment in itself. We are very proud of our group.”
The Sugar Kings bench and fans celebrate their lone goal in a 3-1 loss in game 7 of the Sutherland Cup semis vs. LaSalle. Photo by Ryan Drury
The Elmira Sugar Kings and LaSalle Vipers battle for the puck in front of the Kings bench and their fans during game 7 of the Sutherland Cup semis in Elmira.
Photo by Ryan Drury