Trojans eliminate Raiders, this time on the ice

It was no surprise Friday night, when the ice dust settled the top two teams in NDA Hockey moved on to clash next week in the NDA Final.

Trojans defeated the Raiders 3-1 in a very close and hard fought game Friday at Memorial Gardens. The Trojans stuck first with just 55 seconds gone in the first when Nick Brunette recovered a rebound in front of the Raider goal.

But the Raiders replied 17 seconds later when Keith Spilchen redirected a shot from the point to tie the game up. Scott Britton put the Trojans up 2-1 at the 13:51 mark of the first period. There was no scoring in the second as both teams settled into a tight checking match with the goaltenders becoming the key figures in the game.

Both Mike Mandryk for the Raiders and Andrew Paibomsai of the Trojans stopped difficult shots at key times to key the score 2-1. It wasn't until the 17:22 point of the third did
the Trojans score the clincher when a penalty shot was awarded to the Trojans when a Raider player put his hand on the puck in the crease to prevent a goal. The Trojans
captain Dan Weber scored on the penalty shot and the score finished at 3-1.

Trojans will now face the Algonquin Barons who eliminated Widdfield in 2 straight, including a close 3-2 win on Friday night. Kevin Gareau, Nicholas Raymond and Mitchell Sullivan scored for the Barons, while Adam Courvoisier and Ben Biffis replied for the Wildcats.

The NDA Final begins Monday 7:00 pm at Memorial Gardens.

Submitted to BayToday.ca