The semi finals are set, and one match-up is ready to rock, as the Wingham Ironmen will clash with the Kincardine Bulldogs.
This series will feature two high end teams with different ideologies on how to win, and different ways of chasing down playoff success. Wingham is the high flying squad that can score in bunches and drive teams crazy with their rushes and crisp passing, as well as their dominance on the power play. Kincardine likes to grind opponents to a pulp with a stout defensive game, and a relentless forecheck as they grind and win battles on the wall. The second and third seeds will offer us an epic match-up that will make one of these teams earn a spot in the final.
Up front, Wingham has the highest scoring squad from the regular season, and that's carried over to the playoffs so far. Jamie Huber leads the entire PJHL in playoff scoring so far with 13 points, and his team mates have come along for the high scoring ride as they dispatched the Goderich Flyers in a 4-1 series win. Carter Collinson wracked up 8 points from the back end, while Shane Vollmer and Kyle Stanbury both had 7 points. One poor spot to start the series is the 1-game suspension of Logan Toltan, who was suspended after an altercation late in the 2nd period of game 5 against Goderich.
The Bulldogs had solid offensive output in their 4-2 series win over Mitchell, but as it was in the regular season, the score by committee. The Logan's, Freiburger up front and Swanton on the blue line, had 7 and 4 points respectively, and Mike Fiegehan and Jordan Caskenette each chipped in 4 of their own. The Bulldogs will need to likely see an uptick in scoring from some of their depth players if the Ironmen are able to get their quick strike offense rolling in order to keep pace. But Kincardine remain confident that their best players can score and shut down the top end opponents they face any given night. That defensive structure will have to hold firm, because they can't run and gun with Wingham, that simply won't work.
On defense, Carter Collinson continues to put forth one of the finest years by a defender that's been seen in awhile. Aside from his 8 points, he turned in a great performance against Goderich, sailing all over the ice with his smooth skating and setup abilities on full display every night. He's the Swiss Army knife in the Ironmen's pocket. Much like the regular season, the rest of the Ironmen D don't score much, but Jacob Bishop, Jarod Logan Ryan Litt and Chris Adlys were smothering in their own end and made quick and crisp outlet feeds to their skilled forwards. It's a system that the Ironmen love. Quick, clean and simple from the D.
The Bulldogs defensive zone is the bread and butter of their game. Logan Swanton is a presence every time he takes the ice, and he is excellent at joining the rush and providing offense when the situation calls for it. Hunter Robbins-Gibbons brings a booming shot and physical nature to every contest, and the support staff here all get the defense first message. Blake Buchanan, Kent Ribey, Jesse Carnahan and Brett Angel make up the top 6, and even Isaiah Bell-Webley has seen action as a 7th D. The Bulldogs have plenty of options on their blue line, and they all buy in and go to work every night to wipe out the opponent's offensive game.
In goal, Wingham will likely need to settle on an outright starter soon, but for now they've been fine with their regular season strategy of flip-flopping Devon Carson and Jamie Brock. Carson was in net for the clinching game 5 win over Goderich, and he won all 3 of his starts, going 3-0 with a sparkling 1.67 GAA and .932 save percentage. Being the bigger goalie, Carson may have an edge going forward. Should he falter, the Ironmen have no issue turning to Brock, who went 1-1, with a 4.02 GAA and .867 save percentage, but he was in net for the lone loss to Goderich.
The Bulldogs have no goalie merry-go-round. Craig Luinstra is the man and everyone knows it. He turned in another great performance as the workhorse, starting all 6 games against Mitchell, going 4-1 with a 1.83 GAA and a surreal .937 save percentage. A lot of what the Bulldogs do depends on how far Luinstra can carry this great play. If they were to make the final, and maybe win, he's the early shout for MVP of the Pollock playoffs.
On special teams through one round, the Ironmen continued to be wicked dangerous on the man advantage. They're first overall in all the Northern Conference at 29 percent, but their penalty kill is a meek 11th at just 77 percent. Wingham can score, but when they get into penalty trouble they've had issues, something the Bulldogs could jump on. Kincardine sits 7th in power play efficiency at 17 percent, but their penalty kill is a stout 3rd, at an impressive 94 percent. A dominant power play against a dominant penalty kill. Something's gotta give.
This series will be one of the most entertaining we see, as two teams with different philosophies will go head-to-head for bragging rights and a spot in the final. Everything gets underway today at 7pm in Wingham at the Wescast. Enjoy the action.
Full Series Schedule:
February 17th in Wingham, 6:20 p.m.
February 21st in Kincardine, 7:55 p.m.
February 22nd in Wingham, 7:30 p.m.
February 24th in Kincardine, 7:25 p.m.
If necessary
February 27th in Wingham, time to be determined
March 1st in Kincardine, 8:25 p.m.
March 2nd in Wingham, time to be determined