The Vikings travelled to the Earl Armstrong Arena in Ottawa to take on the Ottawa Jr. Canadians for game seven of the best of seven CCHL2 Martin Division Final on Sat., March 30. The Vikings’ forward, Joel Hunt (22) celebrates after giving the Vikings a 2-1 lead in the second period. In the stands were former Vikings players who were there to cheer the boys on. Moore photo

OTTAWA—The Casselman Vikings played three playoff games this past week as they travelled to Ottawa on Tuesday night to take on the Jr. Canadians in game five of the best of seven CCHL2 Martin Division final, headed back home for game six and back to Ottawa for game seven on Saturday night.

Canadians 3 Vikings 2 (2OT)

The Casselman Vikings travelled to the Earl Armstrong Arena in Ottawa to take on the Ottawa Jr. Canadians on Sat., March 30, for game seven of the best of seven CCHL2 Martin Division final. The Vikings evened the series at three games each with a 3-2 overtime win in the previous game, and both teams looked to take the Martin Division championship with a victory. 

The Casselman Vikings took the Ottawa Jr. Canadians to double overtime in game seven, but it was the Canadians who scored the 3-2 victory taking the series four games to three. The Vikings were in a state of shock after the goal was scored. The Vikings put up a great fight despite being outsized. Moore photo

The teams battled to a scoreless first period with the Vikings outshooting the Canadians 11-7. The Vikings opened the scoring for the third time in three games as Joel Hunt scored his second of the post season from Shawn Patterson at 17:32 of the second period on the power play from Shawn Patterson taking a 1-0 lead. 

The Vikings looked like they would take a 1-0 lead into the second intermission but the Canadians answered with just 1:51 remaining in the middle frame as Thomas Friel scored his seventh of the post season from Jacob Ramalho and Johnny Pickering tying the game at one. The teams took a one-all draw into the second intermission. 

The Canadians took their first lead of the game when Devin Saumur scored his eighth of the post season from Ramalho at 7:59 of the third period. 

The Vikings knotted the affair at two just 13 seconds later, as Frederick Gagnier scored his fifth of the playoffs from Evan Boucher and Mathieu Talbot. Neither team was able to score before the end of regulation so the game headed to overtime. 

Nothing was decided in the first overtime period so the teams headed to the dressing room for the third intermission with a two-all draw. The Canadians pressed the Vikings in their own zone causing a scramble in front of goalie, Nick Campbell, when the puck went off a Vikings defenseman going right to the Canadians, Noel Moses de Kemp who was standing at the top of the circles and he fired high on the blocker side scoring his third of the post season unassisted just 1:43 into the second overtime period. 

The Canadians took the game 3-2 and the series 4-3 eliminating the Vikings. The Canadians became only the second team in seven years to knock off the defending champions as they move on to take on the Richardson Division champions, the Perth Blue Wings for the Barkley Cup. The Canadians outshot the Vikings 37-35. 

Picking up the win in the Canadians’ goal was Ryan Whitehurst making 33 saves and suffering the loss in the Vikings’ goal was Campbell making 34 saves.

The Casselman Vikings welcomed the Ottawa Jr. Canadians to the J. R. Brisson Complex on Thurs., March 28, for game six of the best of seven CCHL2 Martin Division final. The Vikings’ forward, Frederick Gagnier celebrates after scoring the overtime winner forcing a game seven back in Ottawa. The Vikings won the game 3-2. Moore photo

Vikings 3 Canadians 2 (OT)

The Casselman Vikings welcomed the Ottawa Jr. Canadians to the J. R. Brisson Complex on Thurs., March 28, for game six of the best of seven CCHL2 Martin Division final. The Vikings went into the game with their backs against the wall after the Canadians took the previous game 3-1 in Ottawa. 

The Vikings would have to win without the services of their captain Brady Cloutier, after he suffered an upper body injury. The Vikings opened the scoring for the second time in as many games as Evan Boucher scored his second of the playoffs from Frederick Gagnier and Mathieu Talbot just 2:09 into the first period. The Vikings took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. 

The Vikings added their second of the game as affiliated player, Jarrett Williams scored his third of the playoffs from Samuel Mattie and goalie, Nick Campbell at 16:32 of the second period. The Vikings took a 2-0 lead into the second intermission. 

The Canadians cut the deficit to one as Johnny Pickering scored his sixth of the post season from Robbie Pickard and Nicolas Seguin at 6:44 of the third period. 

The Vikings held the Canadians off the score sheet and looked to be heading to a victory but with just 1:43 remaining in regulation, the Canadians tied the game as Noel Moses de Kemp scored his second of the playoffs from Justin Turner and Jacob Ramalho. 

The time wound down to zeros on the time clock forcing a 10-minute overtime frame. The momentum seemed to be on the Canadians’ side but the Vikings responded in overtime dominating the play and at 6:43, Gagnier ended the game banging home the puck at the top of the goal crease scoring his fourth of the season from Adam Paquette and Evan Landry just as a Canadian penalty expired. 

The Vikings took the game 3-2 tying the series at three games apiece forcing a game seven back in Ottawa. The Canadians outshot the Vikings 40-38. Picking up the win in the Vikings’ goal was Nick Campbell making 40 saves and suffering the loss in the Canadians goal was Ryan Whitehurst making 35 saves.

Canadians 3 Vikings 1

The Casselman Vikings travelled to the Earl Armstrong Arena in Ottawa to take on the Ottawa Jr. Canadians on Tues., March 26, for game five of the best of seven CCHL2 Martin Division final. The Canadians took the previous game in Casselman tying the series at two games each with the series down to the best of three. 

The Vikings opened the scoring when Joel Hunt scored his first goal of the post season unassisted at 14:37 of the first period taking a 1-0 lead. The Canadians tied the game at one when Thomas Friel scored his sixth of the playoffs from Andre Giordano and Johnny Pickering at 16:34. The teams took a one-all draw into the first intermission. 

The Canadians took their first lead of the game as Raphael Lecours scored his sixth of the playoffs from Justin Turner and Devin Saumur at 8:13 of the second period. The Canadians took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. 

The Canadians’ defence only allowed the Vikings seven shots in the third period holding them off the board. The Vikings pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker with over a minute remaining but it was the Canadians who found the abandoned cage as Justin Turner scored his third of the post season from Saumur and Pickering with just 32 seconds remaining. 

The Canadians took the game 3-1 and had a chance to eliminate the Vikings with a win back in Casselman. The Canadians outshot the Vikings 41-24. Picking up the win in the Canadians’ goal was Ryan Whitehurst making 23 saves and suffering the loss in the Vikings’ goal was Nick Campbell making 38 saves.