It was a hard-fought series that went the full five games, but in the end the experience of the North Dundas Rockets was able to overcome the speed of the younger South Stormont Mustangs. The North Dundas Rockets will now advance to the league final against the Gananoque Islanders, who won the western division title in four games over Smiths Falls. This will be the third consecutive time the two teams have met in the league championship round.   Tinkess photo.

CHESTERVILLE – The Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League (EOSHL) best of five eastern division championship series between the North Dundas Rockets and the South Stormont Mustangs wrapped up late Sunday afternoon with the Rockets taking a 6-2 come from behind home ice victory over the Mustangs.

It was without a doubt a “home ice” series with each team winning the games played in their home rink.

After exchanging victories a week ago, games were schedule on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The first two games of the series had been a bit “chippy”, but in game three in Chesterville on Friday night it seemed that everyone  had decided that it was time to settle down and play hockey. Both teams had opportunities, but the Mustangs met up with a hot goaltender in Matt Jenkins who stopped all 46 shots he faced as the Rockets picked up a 5-0 victory.

Scoring for the Rockets were Jack Nevins (Chris Kushneriuk, Tanner Williams), Fabian Walsh (Michael Mcnamee, Derek Froats), Nevins, his second (Brett Gustavsen, Craig Baxter), Walsh, his second (Todd Marcellus) and Ryan Lough (Gustavsen, Mcnamee).

In stark contrast to the first two games, all five goals were even strength. The first penalty of the game wasn’t called until 17:06 of the second period, although there were some extra-curricular activities later in the third when the game was out of reach.

On Sat., March 16, it was back to the Long Sault arena for game four, and the emphasis on fast, physical hockey continued. The Mustangs opened the scoring with Kevin Hope scoring from Tanner Spink at 6:40 of the first period.

Ryan Lough tied things up on the powerplay for the Rockets at 4:48 of the second period with assists to Michael Mcnamee and Fabian Walsh.

The Mustangs regained the lead at 6:49 of the third on a goal by Storm Adams from Dillon Barr and Brendan Jacome and added to it at 10:33 with Yanick Lalonde scoring from Jacome and Derrick Ryan).

Chris Kushneriuk would pull the Rockets to within one at 10:51of the third, assisted by Craig Baxter, but that would be as close as they would get.  Isaac Barr wrapped up the scoring at 18:59, assisted by Adams and Jacome.

The two teams met for the St. Patrick’s Day deciding game on Sunday afternoon in Chesterville.

The Mustangs jumped out to an early lead on two unassisted goals, the first by Brendan Jacome (51 seconds) and Yanick Lalonde (5:41). The Rockets then took over, scoring six unanswered goals.

Ryan Lough (Brett Gustavsen, Michael Mcnamee), Derek Froats (Lough, Mcnamee), and Todd Marcellus (Lough, Gustavsen) scored in the first period, with Froats and Marcellus’s goal coming on the powerplay.

Evan Dehaan (Craig Baxter, Jack Nevins) added an even strength marker in the second period.

In the third period Todd Marcellus, who every game continues to prove that age Is just a number, added his second of the game, a short-handed effort, while Doug Harvey (Froats) finished off the scoring into an empty net with 1:22 remaining.

Marcellus, who captured the game’s first star honours, spoke following the game about how everyone stepped up to secure the win, but also about the respect that the players in this league show each other.

“We try to keep it as clean as possible, but as hard hockey as possible,” said Marcellus. “It was a battle, right? I think they’re much younger than us. We ran into some injury trouble, but guys jumped into the line-up, and everyone just filled the role. We, you know, we got a lot of experience on this team. A lot of guys have played pro, high level, university, pro level. So now, we all dug deep, used our experience to our advantage and came up with a win tonight.”

The North Dundas Rockets will now advance to the league final against the Gananoque Islanders, who won the western division title in four games over Smiths Falls.  This will be the third consecutive time the two teams have met in the league championship round.

The series opens in Chesterville on Sat., March 23, at 2:15 p.m. with game two in Gananoque on Sun., March 24 at 5:00 p.m. The remaining games in the series have yet to be scheduled, although game three and five (if necessary) would be in Chesterville, while game four (if necessary) would be in Gananoque.