Sarnia, ON - Joe DeSena scored a
hat-trick in the St. Christopher
Cyclones 9-1 victory over the
Lambton-Kent Cardinals in the
SWOSSAA 1A/2A boys hockey semi-final
game Thursday afternoon at the
Clearwater Arena.
"We played a very good team and I
compliment our team," said Cyclones
Head Coach Blake Morrison. "The
score is surprising against such a
good hockey team and it just
reflects how much these boys want to
move on."
It was 4-0 after the first period
for the Cyclones. Clay Williams
scored just 27 seconds into the game
to get the Cyclones rolling,
followed by Nic Amodeo a minute
later for the quick 2-0 lead. Jamie
Vandenberg got the third goal off a
scramble in front of the Cardinals
net, while Ben Morrison would tally
the fourth goal with 32 seconds
left, picking up his third point of
the period.
DeSena would get his first of the
game to start the second period, as
the Cyclones continue to feed pucks
into the back of the net. Matt
Doidge would put home the sixth of
the game, while Clay Walker would
battle a scramble in front for the
seventh goal. Lambton-Kent would
finally get on the board as Cole
McDonald would steal the shutout
from Pat Brennan in the Cyclones
net, but it would be the last goal
past Brennan for the remainder of
the game. DeSena would finish the
period scoring twenty seconds after
the Cardinals and with 10 seconds
remaing to give the Cyclones a 8-1
lead after two periods.
DeSena would cap off his hat-trick
at the start of the third to finish
off the 9-1 victory.
Ben Morrison finished with a goal
and four assists, while Claw
Williams had a goal and two assists
in the victory.
"I really have high regard for the
players on the St. Chris team," said
Morrison. "They maintained their
composure, and I look for those
qualities and they exemplified
class."
Much like their victory over LCCVI
in last weeks Lambton Cup final, the
Cyclones got off to a quick start
against the Cardinals, in what
Morrison says takes the wind out of
the sails of the opponent.
"When you are playing a tight game
against a strong hockey club,
getting that early momentum, you can
just build on it. It deflates [the
other team]."
The Cyclones will now move on to the
SWOSSAA final on Monday March 5th
against the Windsor Essex champion
FJ Brennan Cardinals.
"Brennan is a good hockey team and
well coached. We expect to have a
challenge and will prepare
accordingly."
The winner of the SWOSSAA final will
move on to the OFSAA championships
in Peterborough, March 21-24.
