In the end the team that was supposed to win the series was victorious, but the Pembroke Lumber Kings can hold their heads high after a spirited battle with the Navan Grads in the first round of the Central Canada Hockey League playoffs. The Grads ended the Lumber Kings season on Easter Sunday with a 4-3 win over the Kings as Navan finished off the series in six games.
Pembroke had a 2-1 lead in the second period on goals by Kyle Cameron and Sutton Murray, but the Grads tied the game on a powerplay and then scored twice in the third period to build a 4-2 lead. Jayson Alegria scored at the 9:42 mark of the third period to pull the Kings to within a goal, but they couldn’t get the equalizer.
Pembroke was a huge underdog heading into the series, having finished 32 points lower in the standings than the Grads, and having made the playoffs as the number 8 seed on the final day of the regular season. Two of the games in the series were decided in overtime, both of them won by Navan.
CCHL Opening Round Playoff Schedule:
Wednesday, March 20th Pembroke and Navan @ 7:30 p.m. (5-1 Navan win)
Friday, March 22nd Navan at Pembroke @ 7:30 p.m. (2-1 Navan win in overtime)
Sunday, March 24th Pembroke and Navan @3:30 p.m. (3-1 Pembroke win)
Wednesday, March 27th Navan at Pembroke @ 7 p.m. (5-1 Pembroke win)
Friday, March 29th Pembroke at Navan @ 7:30 p.m. (5-4 Navan win in double overtime)
Sunday, March 31st Navan at Pembroke @ 2 p.m. (4-3 Navan win)
Navan wins best of seven quarter-final series four games to two.