Panthers sweep into Jr. C finals

Posted By JEFF GARD

Brad Heykoop scored 6:38 into the second overtime period to give Port Hope a 6-5 win before 450 fans Saturday night at the Jack Burger Sports Complex and complete the semifinal series sweep of the Amherstview Jets.

His club trailed Amherstview 5-4 late in the third until teammate Allen Dillon evened the score with just 17 seconds left in regulation time.

At that point, Heykoop knew he had a chance to return, and he did for the start of the first overtime frame. Though some patchwork was needed, Heykoop said he was able to get back on the ice due to the fact his nose was not broken.

While the Panthers fans inspired him to return, Heykoop had no interest in joining them as a spectator.

"There's nothing I wanted more than for us to win that game," he said.

"The crowd was electric. I was sitting in the room and as soon as I heard the crowd after our goal, I knew I needed to get back out there."

By winning the semifinal 4 games to 0, Port Hope will face the Napanee Raiders in the final, which begins Tuesday night in Napanee. The Jets, meanwhile, had advanced to the league championship series six straight years until now.

In the off-season, the former Colborne Cobras relocated to Port Hope to become the Panthers, a name that was used for the local junior C team from the 1950s to 1980s.

Fast forward to the present, Port Hope head coach Matt Muir was glad to see his club eliminate the Jets with their first opportunity. He didn't want a team like Amherstview gaining the momentum.

For the fourth time in the series, the Panthers scored the first goal of the game.

After the first period ended tied at 1-1, as Port Hope's Matt Allen and Mike Londry traded goals, the Panthers went ahead on Logan Arsenault tally in the seventh minute of the second.

A minute later, though, Port Hope's Casey Palmer received a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct for checking to the head. The penalty wasn't called until well after the stoppage in play, but it was eventually called and that's when Amherstview power play -- that coach Muir has warned about -- went to work.

They scored three times during the five minutes; Brock Patterson with 2:23 left in the penalty, Nick Pascoal with 1:35 left and Brent Gilmour with 47 seconds left.

Nick Camilleri and Heykoop, with his first of the night, replied for Port Hope to send the game tied 4-4 into the third.

Early in the third, the Jets went on another five-minute advantage when Port Hope's Trevor Sweetland was ejected for checking from behind. They only scored once this time but it gave them the one-goal lead until Dillon eventually scored with the ticking down.

While coach Muir acknowledged the difficult position of the officials, he didn't believe both calls were completely justified, especially when "one (injured) player was back 30 seconds later."

Still, Muir expects discipline from his club and overall he was pleased with his players in that regard during the series.

What impressed the coach the most was the way the Panthers battle Saturday night.

"I'm proud of these kids," Muir said. "They dug deep tonight and we showed some amazing resilience."

There was an unexpected goaltending change for Port Hope in the third period. Jory Fuller, seeing his first action of the series, replaced injured teammate Jon Hull with about 12 minutes left in the third and didn't surrender a goal the rest of the way.

Muir said in an interview prior to the series that he had confidence in both goalies, regardless of who the starter was going to be, and he reiterated that on Saturday night.

"We're happy with our goaltending," he remarked. "I was extremely confident (in putting Fuller in), as was the team. That makes all the difference in the world."

Fuller worked hard in practice to make sure he was ready if called upon.

"He's the most vocal player on our team," Muir said. "He didn't get down when he didn't start. He was vocal on the bench and kept the guys up and staying positive."

Only two dates have been set so far for the championship schedule.

After Game 1 in Napanee, the Panthers will host Game on Sunday night in Port Hope with a 7 p.m. start time at the Jack Burger Sports Complex.

Prior to the series opener in Napanee, the Empire league award winners will be announced and there will also be a cheque donation to the Red Cross Haiti Disaster Fund by league.

Then, Port Hope and Napanee will begin the battle for the league title.

"It doesn't get any easier," Muir said. "Napanee is a well-coached team and a very disciplined team."