Almonte or Renfrew?, First-place Packers still waiting to see who their first-round opponent will be

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By John Carter

EMC Sports - The Arnprior Packers still don't know who their first-round playoff opponent will be.

The Packers, with some of their veterans missing, kept Renfrew's hopes of finishing third alive Sunday by falling 6-4 to the Timberwolves. The loss ended the Packers' unbeaten streak at 21.

Arnprior, runaway leaders in the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League's Valley Division, had stretched the streak to 21 with a 4-2 win over Stittsville at home last Friday. That loss and an 8-4 defeat in Ottawa Tuesday erased any chances the Royals had of making the playoffs.

Arnprior will either meet Renfrew or Almonte, whoever finishes fourth, in the first round. While Renfrew trails Almonte by three points after weekend action, they can catch the Thunder if they defeat both Shawville and Stittsville and Almonte loses or ties its final game Friday to Gatineau.

The Timberwolves won Sunday in Arnprior when Jordan Dempster snapped a 4-4 deadlock on the power-play with 8:51 remaining, then scored later into an empty net. The two third-period goals completed a hat trick for Dempster. J.J. Hart, Anthony Rea and Colin Bradbury added singles for Wolves.

Cody Janes, Parker Davies, Matt Crozier and Casey Doner scored for Arnprior.

The Packers were missing several key players, including Taylor Collins, Braedon Moffatt, Shane Smith, Ryan Eady and Teddy Suckow.

The Wolves outshot Arnprior 48-30, keeping Packers back-up goalkeeper Mike Cheslock busy all night.

On Friday, Casey Doner broke a 1-1 tie late in the second period and the Packers scored two more at 12:05 and 14:09 of the third to beat the Royals.

Parker Davis, Stephen Cooney and Dan Weir had the other Arnprior goals, while Collins had two helpers. Cheslock made 33 of 35 saves, as the Packers outshot Stittsville 46-35.

The Packers finish off their season with two make-up games with Perth this week. Arnprior were scheduled to host the Blue Wings Wednesday (after press deadline) and will play in Perth this Friday.

Playoffs are expected to begin next week.

ALL-STAR GAMES, AWARDS

For the first time in recent memory, the Valley Division won both all-star contests over the Metro Division Saturday in Nepean, 7-6 in the prospects game and 16-12 in the main game.

At the banquet that followed the games, the Packers received three Valley Division awards. Shane Smith was named defenseman of the year, Matt Couvrette top goaltenders and John Hill manager of the year. Forward David Hobbs of Shawville was named the Valley Division's most valuable player. Renfrew's Scott Conroy was top rookie, Perth's Brett Madigan most gentlemanly player, and Stittsville's Alex Hulford the top scholastic player.

Shawville's Chris Byrne was chosen top coach, Doug Miller and Tim Leblanc of the Timberwolves were top trainers, and Shawville supporter Keith Graham won the Ken Campbell Trophy for his volunteer work.