Golden Hawks return home facing elimination

Tim Bates / OJHL Images

A 5-1 loss to the Newmarket Hurricanes on Tuesday night at the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex has the Trenton Golden Hawks on the brink of elimination.

Trenton now trails 3-0 in the East Conference semifinal as the series now shifts back to Quinte West on Friday night, where the Golden Hawks will need to begin a reverse sweep to keep their season alive.

If they can extend the series, Trenton would host three of the final four games at the Duncan McDonald Memorial Community Gardens.

Despite the lopsided final score, captain Thomas Kuipers opened the scoring with his third goal of the postseason to give the Golden Hawks a 1-0 lead heading into the intermission.

Belleville native, Duncan Schneider tallied his fifth assist of the playoffs on the play.

That would be the lone bright spot offensively, as Trenton went scoreless on their six power-play opportunities.

Newmarket took control in the second period, beginning with a shorthanded goal from Lucas Teixeira to tie the game. Connor Haynes followed with a power-play marker to give the Hurricanes their first lead, before Jesse Venturo added another to make it 3-1 after 40 minutes.

Chase Yanni extended the lead early in the third period and later added an empty-netter.

Hayden Jeffery turned aside 23 shots in the loss, while Carter Froggett made 21 saves for Newmarket.

In league news, Golden Hawks forwards Taeo Artichuk and Jack Ziliotto were both named to the OJHL’s First All-Star Team on Monday afternoon.