Siskins finish second in regular season, face Guelph Hurricanes in first round
By Greg MacDonald, Chronicle Staff, Sports, Mar 03, 2010
After setting regular season franchise records for wins and goals against, the second-place Waterloo Siskins will start its playoff campaign with a first round matchup against the Guelph Hurricanes.The Siskins fell 7-5 to the Brantford Golden Eagles on Saturday and the victory clinched first for Brantford, the reigning champs.
That set up the Siskins’ matchup with the Guelph Hurricanes, the No. 7 seed.
Before the Brantford matchup, Siskins head coach Dean DeSilva said it was a measuring stick. So how did the team stack up?
“We’re happy where we are,” DeSilva said.
Brantford still has the depth and tenacity that made them champs last year, but the Siskins can challenge, DeSilva said.
“Both teams match up very well with each other,” he said.
Even though the Siskins didn’t clinch first place in the Midwestern Conference of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, they did set a number of team marks.
December’s 17-game-win streak was record setting on its own, but it also lead to the Siskins notching the most wins in a season ever in the team’s 75-year history.
The team also set a mark for the fewest goals-against the club has ever seen.
While those records are nice, they’ve been pushed to the side for now, DeSilva said.
“We reflected on them for about 30 seconds,” he said. “We congratulated the players but also reminded them that all the records mean nothing if we don’t continue the success into the playoffs.”
With their first oppoent set, DeSilva and the coaching staff have two days to get the team prepared for the Hurricanes.
Waterloo won six of the seven games against the Hurricanes this season.
The head-to-record record points to a clear advantage for Waterloo, but DeSilva said it’s important not to look past the Hurricanes.
Coach MacEachern has his boys ready for playoffs
“I know head coach Jim MacEachern and I know how hard he has his guys working,” DeSilva said. “He’s got them playing very well.
“The message for our team is that we have to focus on ourselves.”
There will be a quick turnaround for the Siskins. The team played its final game of the season Sunday — a 2-0 win against the Kitchener Dutchmen — and the playoffs will begin Wednesday.
“We have a few bumps and bruises we’re working through, but I think with it being the playoffs, we can bring the energy and a spark,” the coach said.
The Siskins have aspirations beyond the first round and are looking to play to their strengths.
Goaltending has been a major strength for the Siskins, but the Hurricanes haven’t had as much trouble as other squads getting the puck past netminder duo Colin Breen and Will Sibley.
That means the players in front of the goalie will have to step up to ensure a first-round victory.
All that matters now is the win, DeSilva said.
“The regular season is great individual honours but now it’s all about the team,” he said.
The Siskins take on the Guelph Hurricanes in Game 1 tonight at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex at 7:30 p. m.
Guelph Hurricanes Hockey Club 