73’s take series opener against Canadiens as old foes once again battle for title

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While the league name has changed over the years, the fight for supremacy has remained a two-team battle.

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Since 2005, when it was known as the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League, the title has either gone to the Lakeshore Canadiens or the Essex 73’s.

That won’t change this year with the Canadiens and 73’s opening the Bill Stobbs Division final in the Provincial Junior Hockey League on Tuesday.

Essex boasts 11 titles over that stretch while the Canadiens have won four over that

stretch including the last two titles answered before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2018 and 2019.

“They play hard, they play intense and, at the end of the day, they want to win,” Canadiens’ head coach Anthony Iaquinta said. “They haven’t won in a few years and, us being main cause, they want to get back where they feel they belong. The challenge for us is to match their intensity.”

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The Canadiens lost just two games in the regular season. Both came at the hands of the 73’s, who finished second to Lakeshore during the regular season, as the two teams split four regular-season meetings.

However, Essex stole home-ice advantage by taking Tuesday’s opener 3-1 before a crowd of 1,020 at the Atlas Tube Centre.

“We’re playing really good hockey right now, but we’re the underdogs,” 73’s head coach Danny Anger said. “Lakeshore deserved everything they got. They’re well coached, work hard and their power play can be lethal.”

But while it’s been a good regular-season showing for the Canadiens, Iaquinta says playoff hockey is still new for many players on both sides after being sidelined by COVID-19.

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“Every team is different from 2020,” said Iaquinta, who has just six players back from that last championship. “One challenge for us, and everyone in Ontario, is two years of kids who haven’t played. The learning curve is a lot and we’re used to older players.”

A trio of former Lakeshore players in Matt Smith, Tycen Chittle and Andrew Thoms ended up in Essex this season because teams can only carry four overage players.

“I’m thankful for one last shot and it’s exciting to be in the final,” Smith said. “Just from playing (three seasons) with Lakeshore, the goal was to take it away from Essex. I’m sure Essex, losing a couple, has been unhappy the last couple seasons. Now, I think it’s our turn to take control and go far.”

Thomas had a goal in Tuesday’s win and Curtis Jackson added two goals and an assist while goalie Jakob Knowles made 35 saves for Essex, which was outshot 36-23. Trevor Laure scored for the Canadiens, who will look to even the series on Friday in Essex.

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