Feb 26, 2018
Sweep Aces -- Advance to Round 2
With a game one 5 – 4 win in the best of three series in Windsor on February 24th over the Windsor Aces, the Niagara Whalers returned to action against the Aces 24 hours later in Port Colborne, Ontario in game two of the series at the Vale Centre in Greater Metro Hockey League south division post – season action.
Windsor’s Kristers Bormanis finds the back of Niagara goaltender Will Harvey’s net to give the Aces a 1 – 0 lead 3:36 into the game with James Brooks and Viacheslav Chegrintcev adding the contributors on Bormanis’ goal. Mark Gangnon and Raman Isaikou set up the visitors second goal of the contest at 4:19 period on a Caleb Phibbs goal. 38 seconds later, Whaler Zach Main pulls the hosts within one at the 4:57 mark of the first with Steven Farano and Jake Lloyd registering the helpers on Main’s goal. With Niagara on a power play at 17:03 of the period, Jake Lloyd sends the Whalers into the first intermission even at 2 – 2. David Christopher and Main drew the assists on Lloyd’s power play marker.
Lloyd scores his second of the game at 11:58 of the middle stanza for Niagara’s go – ahead goal to give the Whalers a 3 – 2 lead, Jacob Reeves and Alex Remedios had the contributors on Lloyd’s goal. Kellan Rosenbaum and Elias Berglund combine on Frolov Mikhail goal to add the the Whalers lead 5:54 into the final period. Gangnon pulls the Aces within one 6:19 into the period with Thomas Virban and Phibbs notching the helpers on Gangnon’s goal. Remedios gives Niagara a two goal lead with 2:08 left in the game to bring the score to 5 – 3. Nick Pastorious and Lloyd added the assists on Remedios’ goal. With six goal of the game and on a Whaler power play, Main sunk his second of the game at 19:23 with a pass from Ethan Spaxman to give the hosts a 6 – 3 win over Windsor and advance to the next round of post – season. Goaltender Will Harvey turned away 37 of 40 shots for the Whalers in game three.
The Whalers will play the Kingsville Kings in the second round with a best of five series.
