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Junior C loop provides exciting action over the weekend

Two upset games keep fans on edge

By BRIAN LOCKHART

The Provincial Junior Hockey League continues to provide a lot of excitement and a few surprises this season.

In the Carruthers Division, of the League, local teams battled it out over the weekend with a few surprise results.

The Stayner Siskins have been at the top of the standings for most of the season, but they took a surprise loss to the fourth place Alliston Hornets on Sunday (Dec. 5) night when they travelling to Alliston home ice.

It was a 3-2 game going into the final period when both teams started hitting the back of the net.

The game was tied twice with each team then taking the lead. With five minutes left on the clock the game was tied at six.

Alliston took the win when they scored with six seconds remaining in regulation time.

It was only the third loss for the Siskins this season.

The other weekend upset happened when the fifth place Penetang Kings travelled to Orillia to go up against the second place Terriers.

The Terriers have lost only three games this season.

The Kings got the jump on the Terriers with a 3-1 lead in the second frame. Orillia closed the gap to make it a 3-2 game with one period left to go.

Both teams scored singles in the final period to give Penetang the 4-3 win.

The Stayner Siskins still maintain the top spot in the division with a 14-3 record and 28 points.

MINOR HOCKEY IN FULL SWING: The Orangeville Flyers U9 AE team take on the Guelph Gryphons on the ice at Tony Rose arena this past Sunday (Dec. 5). Minor hockey hockey is in full swing with

The next three teams are separated from the top by only three points. Orillia is in second place with 27 points. The Schomberg Cougars are in third place in the standings with 27 points. Alliston is in fourth place with 25 points.

Any of those three teams could make a move up in the standings depending on what happens over the next few games. Down at the bottom, the Caledon Golden Hawks are in sixth place with a 5-13 record so far for the season.

Both the Midland Flyers and the Huntsville Otters have failed to get much going this season. Midland has won only three of 18 games.

The Otters have only been on the winning side twice after 18 times on the ice.

Both boys’ volleyball teams at Westside Secondary School are at the top of the District 4 standings after the regular season and will go into the playoffs as the top seed.

“Westside’s junior and senior boys’ volleyball teams are in the swing of a very strong season,” said Westside coach Jessica Shortt, who has led the seniors to back-to-back championships in previous seasons.

The senior team is in first place in the District 4 standings, going undefeated after five matches. They managed to blank their opponents in three of those matches.

There are six schools entered in competition this season.

The Westside Thunder seniors won the District title in 2019 and 2020 and are hoping to make it a three-peat this year.

There was no champion declared in 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic restricted high school sports for that season.

Westside took over the top spot from Norwell District Secondary School who won the District, 14 years in a row.

In the playoffs, the Westside team will be up against fourth place Norwell District in the semi-final round.

The other semi-final will pit Wellington Heights Secondary School against Erin District High School.

The winners of the semi-final round will go on to play for the District championship.

All matches will be played at Westside on Wednesday, December 8.

The Westside junior boys’ volleyball team is also in first place in the standings going undefeated after four games.

The Westside junior team last won the District with back-to-back victories in 2017 and 2018.

They also took over from Norwell District after that school’s junior team with the District title for nine years in a row.

As the top seed team, the Westside Thunder juniors will host the playoffs and final game. Westside will be up against Erin District High School in their semi-final match.

The other semi-final will have Centre Dufferin District High School meeting up with Wellington Heights Secondary School. Winners of the semi-final round will move on to the final championship game. Games will be played in the gym at Westside on Wednesday, December 8.