by John Humphrey
The Lakeshore Canadiens have been dethroned as Schmalz Cup champions. Looking to repeat as champions of the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL), the Canadiens lost their final two games of the Schmalz Cup Final Four tournament in Woodstock this past weekend.
In addition to the Canadiens, the 2023 PJHL Schmalz Cup Final Four Championship Tournament features the Eastern Conference champion Clarington Eagles, who lost to Lakeshore 3-2 in the 2022 Schmalz Cup title game, and the North Conference champion Wellesley Applejacks, who ended up winning the 2023 Schmalz Cup on Sunday with a 3-2 win over the Eagles. The Stayner Siskins, champions of the PJHL’s South Conference, rounded out the tournament teams.
All teams played one game at home and one on the road before advancing to the tournament’s final games in Woodstock. The Canadiens defeated the Applejacks 4-1 at the Atlas Tube Centre before dropping a 4-2 decision to the Siskins at the Stayner Memorial Arena.
Mitchel Davies scored twice and Jordan Shaw and Hayes Bell added singles as the Eagles blanked the Canadiens 4-0 on Friday, May 12 at the Woodstock District Community Complex. Jude Rondina made 12 saves to pick up the shutout for the Eagles while Canadiens netminder Nicolas Bolton stopped 30 of the 34 shots he faced.
A day later, Koby Seiling scored the overtime winner as the Applejacks defeated the Canadiens 3-2 in extra time. Isiah Katsube and Adam Hoff had the other goals for Wellesley while Eric Bisson and Mathew Herniman replied for Lakeshore. The Applejacks’ Noah Bender made 19 saves to pick up the win in net while Romano Liburdi made 28 stops for the Canadiens, who were eliminated from the tournament, as a result of the loss, as the Applejacks advanced to the championship game.
Wellesley defeated Clarington 3-2 to claim the 2023 Schmalz Cup on Sunday, May 14 in Woodstock.
The process of building another championship-contending team for Lakeshore starts soon as the Canadiens as the team’s spring mini-camp which opens on Thursday, May 25 at the Atlas Tube Centre from 7pm until 9 pm. A second mini camp will also be held as the spots for the first one were quickly filled but the date has yet to be announced.
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