The Gillespie's Tree Service U15 Red Devils looked to close out their playoffs this week and punch their ticket to the OMHA Championship in Kingston.
The action got started with a short road trip on Thursday night to visit the Greater Kingston Gaels where 2 points would put the squad through to Championship Weekend. The game got off to a torrid start with 3 goals inside the first two minutes of play. QRD came out with a 2-1 lead with Andrew Laurin tapping in a nice cross ice feed from Lauchlan Whelan and Jax Martin tapping in a rebound off a Brechyn Aird point shot. Kingston would level the score again before the end of the frame and the second period would start at a 2-2 tie. John Korver would take a Gaels turnover and feed Ewan Dahle who would bury it for all of the offence in the period and put the visiting side up 3-2. The Gaels would tie the game up again early in the 3rd before Dahle would put the Devils in front for good finishing off a nice passing play with Trent Clow and Whelan. Whelan would add to his tally on the score sheet putting the Devils ahead 5-3 with helpers from Laurin and Jack Beebe. Lawson Minifie would provide the final nail in the coffin into the empty net for a 6-3 QRD win. Nathan Ferriss stood tall in net as the squad officially punched their ticket in search of the Red Hats!
Saturday saw Markham come to town for game 9/10 in the playoffs this year. The foot came off the gas a bit as the squad dropped a 3-2 decision in what was a meaningless game as far as standings are concerned. Cohen Stewart and John Korver picked up goals with Lauchlan Whelan, Andrew Laurin, Coen Lowry and Stewart adding helpers. Sunday's action was cancelled as the result of a flu bug ravaging the York Simcoe team.
The Red Devils head to Kingston in search of Red Hats the weekend of Mar 28-30. Their tournament gets started bright and early Friday morning with a 9am contest against their archrival Barrie Colts with a 5pm afternoon contest against the Oakville Rangers to close out day 1. Day 2 sees a 3pm start against the Southern Tier Admirals to finish off round robin play. All of these games will be on the Desjardins pad at the Invista Centre and available on LiveBarn for those who subscribe. If Sunday qualification becomes a reality, semis are slated for 11am with the finals going at 5pm.