Tartans Oust Lancers in Upset Win, CKSS Advances

The KCSSAA high school hockey playoffs got underway Wednesday with two nailbiter wins. At Memorial Arena, the Wallaceburg District Secondary School Tartans shocked the higher ranked UCC Lancers with a 2-0 shutout win to eliminate the Lancers from the Kent playoffs.

UCC, who didn’t lose a game to Wallaceburg all season, couldn’t find the scoresheet as Wallaceburg goaltender Keelar Irwin shut the door.

Nick Howlett and Brock Doucheart scored for the Wallaceburg Tartans, who will now face the first seed Lambton-Kent Cardinals next Thursday, February 16, at 2:00pm in Dresden.

At Erickson Arena in Chatham, the reigning Kent champion CKSS Golden Hawks took on the John McGregor Panthers. CKSS got on the board early on a delayed penalty call as grade 9 Dede Cato ripped a slapshot from the point to beat JMSS goalie Tyler Hillier. Assists on the goal went to Drew Marlatt and John Montgomery.

After the scoring dried up, CKSS captain Tyler Harwood banged in a powerplay marker midway through the third period to put the Golden Hawks up 2-0, which is how the game would end. Justin Pratt recorded the shutout for CKSS, while John McGregor goalie Tyler Hillier made 39 saves in the loss.

CKSS will travel to Ridgetown, Monday February 13 for the other Kent hockey semi-final.