Norwich-Essex series schedule

Game 1- April 3 Norwich at Essex 7:30 pm
Game 2- April 5 Essex at Norwich 2:00 pm
Game 3- April 10 Essex at Norwich 8:00 pm
Game 4- April 11 Norwich at Essex 7:00 pm
Game 5- April 13 Essex at Norwich 7:00 pm
Game 6- April 15 Norwich at Essex 7:30 pm
Game 7- April 17 Essex at Norwich 8:00 pm

NIAGARA CHAMPIONS!!!

For the first time in 22 years the Norwich Merchants are Niagara District Champions after defeating Grimsby 3-0 Saturday night to win the Niagara Final in 5 games.

Norwich showed from the start of the game that they wanted to end this series Saturday night. They played smothering defence everytime Grimsby touched the puck, they hit Grimsby every chance they had and they flat outworked them. Sean McLeod opened the scoring on a powerplay goal 2:40 into the first period. Bryan Phillips would put Norwich up 2-0 with 27 seconds left in the first period when his wrist shot went off of Mike Tardif's glove and into the net. Norwich outshot Grimsby in the first 10-6.

Todd Kemp would put the nail in Grimsby's coffin 3:22 into the second scoring into a half open net. The rest of the period Grimsby tried to get any kind of momentum going but couldn't getting outshot 14-3.

The Third period was a lot like the second where Grimsby couldn't get anything going as Norwich outshot them 8-3 for the period and 32-12 for the game. Norwich goalie Cody Vinnai picked up his 3rd shutout of the playoffs while upping his record to 12-4.

Up next for Norwich is Schmalz Cup Semifinals against the Essex 73's that will start sometime next weekend. When the Schedule becomes available it will be posted on the blog. Essex won the Great Lakes League defeating the Dresden Kings in four straight games.

One to go!!!

The Norwich Merchants are one win away from a Niagara league title after winning game four 4-3. Game 5 goes in Norwich Saturday night at 7:30.

Grimsby opened the scoring when Steve Manojovik would score a powerplay goal at 10:52. Norwich would tie at 13:23 on one of the more uglier goals you will ever see. Dan O'Hearn's pointshot would go wide of the net but would bounce off of the dasher board and deflect into the net off of Grimsby goalie Brad Pope and into the net. Norwich would take a 2-1 lead at 19:10 and bang in a loose puck past Pope. Norwich would outshoot Grimsby in the period 13-11.

Grimsby would tie it midway into the second period when Kyle Fraser would hammer home a loose puck from the top of the circle past a screened Cody Vinnai. Grimsby would grab the lead on the power play at the 17 minute mark when Chris Lane's pointshot would find the inside of the post past a screened Vinnai. Chad Barclay would tie it for Norwich 29 seconds later when he banged in his own rebound. Norwich would score the winner two minutes later on the powerplay when Sean McLeod would drive to the front of the net and slide a backhander past Pope. The shots in the second period were 7-7.

Norwich spent the third period playing dump and chase while wearing down and frustrating the Grimsby team. Norwich out shot Grimsby in the third 8-3 and 28-21 for the game.

Looking ahead at Game 5 for Grimsby you have to wonder who Dave Brownridge will start in goal, Brad Pope looked human in Game 4 and gave up 3 softies, and Mike Tardif got yanked in Game 3. Not a spot I'd want to be in knowing that my season is on the line.

Halfway home.

The Norwich Merchants are halfway to winning the Niagara Title after defeating the Grimsby Peach Kings 3-1 in game 3 of the Niagara League final. Norwich now leads the best of seven series 2-1 and host Game 4 Friday night.
Norwich controlled the play in the first period and at 13:54 Tom Brady would put Norwich up 1-0, Bryan Phillips and Ryan Baetz would get the assists on the goal. Norwich would outshoot Grimsby in the first period 13-2.
Grimsby would tie it up 1:25 into the second period on a Justin McCormack goal. Norwich would retake the lead at 10:18 when Todd Kemp would score making it 2-1, Bryan Phillips and Dan O'Hearn would get the assists on the goal. Two minutes layer at 13:20 Kris Krouluski would add the insurance goal making it 3-1, Chad Barclay and Sean McLeod would get assists on the goal. That goal also ended Grimsby goalie Mike Tardif's night. Norwich would outshoot Grimsby in the second 13-11.
Grimsby came out with some jump in the third as they outshot Norwich 11-8 but could not get one past Norwich goalie Cody Vinnai who made 23 saves on the night. Norwich held the shot advantage for the night 34-24 as Norwich outplayed Grimsby for the third straight game of this series.

Other series:
Essex leads the Great Lakes final 3-0 and has a chance to close out thier series with Dresden Wednesday night. Alliston leads Walkerton 2-0 with game 3 in Walkrton Thursday night. Uxbridge and Amherstview are tied at a game a piece with game 3 of that series Wednesday night in Amherstview.

Clean Sweep

Hockey fans in Norwich have reason to smile tonight, first off the novice rep team won a OMHA championship beating Thamesford 3-0, then the Midget rep team also won a OMHA championship defeating Grand Valley 2-1. Congratulations to both teams for great seasons.

GAME NIGHT

Tonight the Niagara Final continues in Grimsby as Norwich and Grimsby will try to get a leg up on each other. If you don't feel like driving to Grimsby for that game, come to Norwich to watch the Norwich midget rep team as they attempt to win the deciding game of the all Ontario Championship against Grand Valley at 8:15 pm

All Even

Through 3 periods and overtime period the Grimsby Peach Kings and the Norwich Merchants had traded chances, a goal and some shoddy penalty calls. Then in the second overtime referee Tom Searle decided to play god, he whistled Norwich forward Chad Barclay for a marginal hooking call, and on the ensuing powerplay Josh Rogal scored the winner at 25:00 of overtime to give Grimsby the 2-1 win tying the best of seven series at a game a piece. It bothers me to no end that the OHA lets some of these referee's do playoff games, Norwich has played 12 playoff games on thier current run, out of the 12 games only 3 of them have had competent reffing. Prior to the Barclay call in the second overtime, Searle had whistled Norwich for 2 other marginal penalties in the first overtime. It would be nice to let the players decide a game of that magnitude and not the referee, I'm sure that Norwich head coach Dave Smith probably can't stop thinking he got screwed today and quite honestly I can't blame him. Lets hope the OHA can find a compentent ref for Game 3 in Grimsby Tuesday night, but I somehow doubt it, it's been like this for years why would they want it to change now.

GO MERCHANTS GO

Norwich-Grimsby Schedule

Here is the rest of the Merchants-Peach Kings series.

Game 2- Sunday March 22 at Norwich 2:00 pm

Game 3- Tuesday March 24 at Grimsby 7:30 pm

Game 4- Friday March 27 at Norwich 8:00pm

Game 5- Saturday March 28 at Norwich 7:30 pm

Game 6- Sunday March 29 at Grimsby 7:30 pm

Game 7- Wednesday April 1 at Norwich 7:30 pm

Norwich takes early series lead.

Norwich has accomplished yet another playoff feat in these 2009 playoffs, they won the first game of the Niagara Final in Grimsby last night 3-2. Norwich now leads the Niagara Final 1 game to none and play game 2 in Norwich Sunday afternoon at 2.

The first period started out slowly while Norwich found their skating legs as the first period rolled along the better Norwich played, The first perod would end up scoreless. Grimsby held a 9-4 shot advantage.

Norwich came out in the second with a lot more jump and would score the opening goal of the night at 3:21 on the powerplay when Tom Brady deflected a Bryan Phillips pointshot past Grimsby goalie Mike Tardif. Less than 3 minutes later Chad Barclay would grab a loose puck in the nuetral zone and with a head of steam roof one over Tardif's glove hand grabbing a 2-0 lead.
Grimsby would break Cody Vinnai's shutout streak at 11:48 when Josh Rogal would score on a wrist shot up high making it 2-1. Norwich would restore thier 2 goal lead when Kris Krouluski would score on the powerplay at 18:58. Norwich would outshoot Grimsby 14-12 in the second period.

The third period was a more defensive period as Norwich played dump and chase and most of Grimsby's shots were from long range as Norwich played tight defence in front of Cody Vinnai.
Grimsby would add a powerplay goal with 48 seconds left as he beat Cody Vinnai with a wrist shot. Norwich held Grimsby at bay after that not letting them get a shot away. Grimsby out shot Norwich in the third 9-5 and outshot them for the game 30-23.

Other Playoffs series: The Niagara League Final also doubles as the Schmaltz Cup quarterfinals, The Schmaltz Cup goes to the Ontario C Champion, in the three other quarterfinal Essex leads Dresden 2-0, that series is also the Great Lakes league final. Alliston who won the Georgian Bay league plays Walkerton who won the Western League that series starts tonight in Walkerton, and the last quarterfinal has Uxbridge who won the Central League playing Amherstview who won the Empire League that series opens up tonight in Amherstview.

HAIL TO THE VICTORS!. 2008-2009 NIAGARA WEST CHAMPS NORWICH MERCHANTS

For 35 minutes the outcome of Game 5 was in doubt until Ryan Devos scored to extend Norwich's lead to 4-2. From that point on it seemed like the Simcoe Storm knew their fate. And if the Devos goal wasn't enough Chad Barclay's seeing eye shot was the nail in the coffin on Simcoe's playoff run. Norwich would add 3 more before the end of the night to make it 8-2.

Norwich played this series with more determination and wanted it more than Simcoe did, and played better defensively than Simcoe. Norwich now awaits for the winner of the Dundas-Grimsby series, Grimsby leads the best of seven 3-2, game 6 goes tommorow night in Dundas.

The One that got away

Up 1-0 going into the third last night only 20 minutes is what kept the Norwich Merchants away from wrapping up thier West Division Final against Simcoe, unfourtunately somone forgot to tell Simcoe how the plot was supposed to end. The stands packed full of fans ready to celebrate a division title at home. But Simcoe manned up and played like they wanted to win that third period more than Norwich did. Simcoe's Phil Bethune would tie it with 12 minutes left in the third, and with 2:54 to go Kris Purawec scored the winner. Simcoe tacked on 2 empty netters to finish up a 4-1 win. Simcoe goalie Kris McCoubrey stood on his head in the first period to keep Norwich at bay. Brian Phillips would finally break the goose egg four minutes into the second, that would be the only blemish on Mc Coubrey's night as he made 29 saves on the night.

Game 5 goes tonight in Norwich same senario as last night win at home in front of a packed house ready to celebrate a division title. Norwich needs to play much better tonight than they did last night, And treat tonight like a must win game you don't want to go back to Simcoe for a game 6.

Character Builder

Down 4-0 12 minutes in it would have been easy to fold up the tent. But the Norwich Merchants had something to prove against the Simcoe Storm, they battled back to score 3 goals before the end of the first. I'm sure that during the first intermission Norwich coach Dave Smith gave his team a tongue lashing, it seemed to work. They spent the next two periods playing Merchant hockey and getting timely goaltending from Cody Vinnai. The Powerplay also kicked in tonight scoring 4 of thier 5 goals on the powerplay.
Simcoe has to be thinking that they blew it tonight, up 4 they quit playing hard and started to take stupid penalties Chris Marco was in the box for roughing after the whistle when Norwich's Kris Krouluski scored the winner with 2:33 to go sealing the deal on a 5-4 win and the nail in Simcoe's coffin, yes the Storm still have a game 4 Friday night to try to salvage a game but honestly deep down I'm sure they are thinking that right now they are lacking heart while Norwich is playing with all kinds of heart.
This series will be over Friday night, Simcoe can spend to thier hearts content, but it wont win them a championship, teamwork and heart does and right now Norwich has that on thier side.

One Up

Last night the Norwich Merchants accomplished something against Simcoe that they hadn't done in a real long time, They won the opening game of the division final against Simcoe. Led by Kris Krouluski's 2 goals and 27 saves by Cody Vinnai, Norwich would grab a 3-0 lead into the third and eventually hang on to win 4-2.
As I had posted in my last blog I said that Simcoe's lack of goaltending would come back to haunt them and it did last night Kris McCoubrey was pulled after 3 goals, Chris Willis played out the rest of the night, which should make it interesting to see who Storm coach Brian Paton starts in Game 2 tommorow night in Simcoe.

Bring on the Storm.

The Norwich Merchants cast aside Woodstock Saturday night in a 3-1 win. It now sets up the West Division against the Simcoe Storm. Simcoe defeated Norwich the last 3 times they met in the division finals the lst being in 2005. They met last season in the Division Semi Final last year where Norwich won in 5 games. The two teams split the season series 3 a piece as for this playoff series I give Norwich a slight advantage. Offensively Simcoe has the advantage with thier big line of Zane Nielly, Jordan Paton and Kris Purawec can light it up at will it seems but after that their depth up front becomes surprisingly thin although the addition of Cody Thornton at the trade deadline should help out up front. Norwich needs to get another line other than their big line of Chad Barclay, Sean McLeod and Kris Krouluski to start scoring. On the Blueline I give Norwich a big advantage they have a much more mobile unit than Simcoe and have more firepower from the blueline than Simcoe does. In goal the advantage goes to Norwich goalie Cody Vinnai over either Chris Willis or Kris McCubrey of the Storm, and After Vinnai's performance in the Woodstock series( 1.28 GAA, 94.3 save percentage) he'll be hard to beat. It should be a good series to watch, the rivalry between these two teams is still like it was the last time these two teams met in the finals three years ago. Norwich will take this series in 6 games. All the fun starts Friday night in Norwich.