Golden Hawks dealt first playoff setback

Amy Deroche / OJHL Images

The Trenton Golden Hawks were handed their first loss of the Buckland Cup playoffs on Friday night, falling 4–3 to the Newmarket Hurricanes at the Duncan McDonald Memorial Community Gardens.

Trenton opened the scoring early, as Daylen Moses notched his second goal of the postseason. However, Chase Yanni responded for Newmarket, sending the game into the first intermission tied.

The Hurricanes took control in the second period, scoring three times before the midway point to build a 4–1 lead. Colten Drillen-Roach entered the game in relief of Hayden Jeffery and helped settle things down for the Golden Hawks.

Trenton pushed back in the third period. Beckett Ewart capitalized on the power play to cut into the deficit, and just 26 seconds later, Kale Mace brought the Golden Hawks within one.

Despite earning three additional power-play opportunities in the period, Trenton was unable to solve Newmarket goaltender Carter Froggett again.

Despite the loss, there were positives for the Golden Hawks. Drillen-Roach was perfect in relief, stopping all 11 shots he faced.

Mace and Moses each had a goal and an assist, while defenceman Candon O’Neill led the team with five shots on net.

The lineup also got a major boost with the return of Taeo Artichuk, who was recognized during the game as the OJHL’s leading scorer, along with all-star defenceman Andrew Wycisk.

Artichuk ran away with the scoring title this year, his 108 points were 18 more than runner-up and linemate Jack Ziliotto.

Wycisk, who played parts of five seasons with the Niagara IceDogs, had 27 points in 27 games after joining the Golden Hawks in mid-October.

Trenton has not lost consecutive games since the end of November, and during last year’s championship run, the club did not drop back-to-back playoff games.

The semifinal series now shifts to Newmarket, where Trenton will look to rebound. The Golden Hawks have yet to lose at the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex this season, outscoring the Hurricanes 12–7 in those two games.

Game 2 is set for Sunday afternoon, with puck drop scheduled for 4:30 p.m.