Semi Final Game 1 – Hawkesbury Hawks 4 Brockville Braves 3 (2 OT)
Kerfalla Toure, Thomas Cusson, and Josh Spratt scored in regulation, captain Mark Cooper was the overtime hero, while Matthew Tovell made 20 saves, as Hawkesbury came back from a two goal deficit in the third period to take a 1-0 series lead over Brockville in the series-opening game of the Central Canada Hockey League semi final between the two teams.
The Hawks trailed 3-1 in the third period, before Kerfalla Toure struck again with his ninth goal of the 2022 playoffs at 8:18 of the frame, with assists from Josh Spratt and Nicolas Tan. Spratt then tied the game with just over six minutes left in the third to send the game to overtime.
Cooper scored on a brilliant individual play in overtime, taking the puck from his defense position at the blueline through the faceoff circle and barging towards the net to jam home the winning goal. Spratt and Rylee Hlusiak earned assists.
The Braves had two goals from Justin Dauphinais and a single from Luke Tchor, while Sami Molu finished with 47 saves, as Hawkesbury outshot Brockville 51 to 23.
The game was the fifth overtime game for Hawkesbury this season, after four of the team’s six games in the first round against the Navan Grads went into extra time. The Braves are also used to overtime in these playoffs, having played a CCHL record four overtime periods to overcome the Pembroke Lumber Kings in Game 7 of their first round series.
Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday night (April 26) in Brockville at 7 p.m. The two teams will meet in Game 3 at the Robert Hartley Sports Complex in Hawkesbury on Wednesday, April 27, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. Game 4 is in Brockville on Friday, evening April 30, with Game 5 in Hawkesbury on Monday, May 2, beginning at 7 p.m.
