Harrogate, Vipers Off To Sutherland Cup

Chatham’s Brendan Harrogate will have the opportunity to play against some of Ontario’s top Junior B players at the upcoming Sutherland Cup.

LaSalle will face off against the Elmira Sugar Kings in a Sutherland Cup semi-final series beginning Wednesday in Elmira, before playing their first home game Friday in LaSalle. Elmira’s roster features former Chatham Maroons forward Eric Palazzolo.

Traditionally, the Sutherland Cup took a round robin format before the two top teams faced off in a best-of-seven series, however the format changed to a semi-final, followed by a final this season.

The Leamington Flyers, who won the GOJHL Western Conference championship by defeating LaSalle, will play in the other Sutherland Cup semi-final against Caledonia. LaSalle made the Sutherland Cup as the wild card, by having the best winning percentage among GOJHL finalists.

Harrogate was LaSalle’s leading scorer through the GOJHL Western Conference playoffs as a rookie, scoring 8 goals and 11 assists for 19 points in only 16 games.

The Chatham product, who was drafted by the Mississauga Steelheads in last year’s OHL draft, played for the Chatham-Kent Cyclones Minor Midget ‘AAA’ team in 2013-2014.