Five times the charm
The Casselman Vikings won their fifth consecutive junior championship on Thurs., April 12, after defeating the Carleton Place Canadians in Game 5 of the CCHL2’s Barkley Cup. The Vikings won their third Barkley Cup since the league became the CCHL Tier 2 and two prior to that in the EOJHL. The champions are: (not in order) Sebastien Plante, Brendan Doherty, Sean David, Ethan Wensink, Ryan Sabourin, Brady Cloutier, Carter Malette, Danyk Drouion, Yanick Dicaire, Gabriel Rousselle, Kyle Millett, Joel Hunt, Olivier Brunet, Jason Cossette, Jonah Peters, Isaac Lavallee, Joseph Heath, Jonathan Yaremko, Ethan Cahill, Andrew Black, Samuel Labre and Shane Spencer. Coaches, Mike Ruest, Geoff Seguin and A. J. Plante. Trainer, Marc Andre Quann, Equipment Manager, Vincent Bouchard, General Manager, Raymond Lavergne, Scout, Steve Poirier, Jocelyn “Toe” Quesnel, President, Sylvain Dignard, Investors, Gilles Laplante, Serge Richer, Alain Lamache, Louis Brisson, Jean Claude Cayer, Jacques Lavergne and Denis Drouin.     Courtesy Lauwers photo

The CCHL2 named the Vikings’ power forward, Ethan Wensink, as the 2018 playoff MVP. He was later presented the award by CCHL2 Commissioner, Kevin Abrams and the Director of Hockey Operations, Bruce Baskins. Wensink scored seven and picked up eight assists for 15 points in 16 games. Courtesy Lauwers photo

Jeff Moore
Record Staff
CASSELMAN—The Casselman Vikings played Games 4 and 5 of the CCHL2’s Barkley Cup this past week as they travelled to Carleton Place on Wednesday night to take on the Canadians and at home on Thursday night. The Vikings used the motto #D45 (hashtag drive for five) all year and it came to fruition after Game 5. The Vikings saluted the Humboldt Broncos by replacing the Vikings with Broncos on the display of the game clock.

Vikings 5 Canadians 3: The Casselman Vikings welcomed the Carleton Place Canadians to the J. R. Brisson Complex on Thurs., April 12, for Game 5 of the best of seven CCHL2’s Barkley Cup. The Vikings led the series three games to one after defeating the Canadians 3-2 in Game 1, 4-2 in Game 2 and 3-1 in Game 4. Their only loss came at home when they dropped a 4-3 decision.

With a win the Vikings would capture their third consecutive Barkley Cup and fifth consecutive championship going back to the EOJHL. The Canadians needed a win to force a Game 6 back in Carleton Place.

The Vikings opened the scoring when Brendan Doherty pounded home a rebound from Sebastien Plante and Yanick Dicaire at 6:30 of the first period to take a 1-0 lead. The Vikings outshot the Canadians 9-6 in the first period and took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Vikings made it 2-0 when Jason Cossette sniped one off the crossbar and down at 13:04 of the second period from Ryan Sabourin. After a slew of minor penalties, the Vikings’ Ethan Wensink buried a three-foot pass from Sean David and Ethan Cahill at 15:40. The Vikings took a convincing 3-0 lead into the second intermission.

The Vikings seemed like they were planning their celebration early in the third period and forgot to play the game. The Canadians cut the Vikings’ lead to two when Aiden Parnell scored from Carter Holmes just 1:24 into the period and to within one when Ryland Mosley scored an unassisted power-play goal at 3:22.

With the clock ticking down ominously, the Canadians tied the game with 5:13 remaining as Cameron Patton scored on the power play from Reece Bolton and Eastan Eckert. The Vikings looked to be in shock and called a time out to calm down.

The Canadians took a late penalty and the Vikings capitalized as Carter Malette took a puck off the face just under the nose deflecting it into the net. Dicaire was the shooter on the play picking up the lone helper taking a 4-3 lead with 4:13 remaining.

The Canadians pulled their goalie with just under two minutes remaining in favour of an extra attacker but it was the Vikings’ Sean David who fought through while being pulled down from behind from a Canadian defenseman sliding one to the back of the net with 50 seconds remaining.

After a Vikings’ icing call, the Canadians pulled their goalie again but the Vikings were able to hold off the attack. Sticks, gloves and helmets went flying through the air as the Vikings celebrated their fifth consecutive title and third Barkley Cup. Picking up the win in the Vikings’ goal was Nick Campbell making 20 saves on 23 shots and suffering the loss for the Canadians was Jacob Lavergne making 26 saves on 30 shots.

The Vikings’ power forward and alternate Captain, Ethan Wensink, was named as the 2018 CCHL2’s Playoff MVP.

Vikings 3 Canadians 1: The Casselman Vikings travelled to the Carleton Place Arena on Wed., April 11 to take on the Canadians for Game 4 of the best of seven CCHL2’s Barkley Cup. The Vikings went into the game with a 2-1 series lead after they dropped Game 3 back in Casselman 4-3 in overtime but looked to take a 3-1 series lead back to the friendly confines of the J. R. Brisson Complex the following night.

The Canadians had a chance to tie the series at two games apiece and extend the series to at least a Game 6. The teams battled to a scoreless first period with both goalies stealing the show. The Canadians outshot the Vikings 14-10 but the clock read zeros heading into the first intermission.

The Vikings opened the scoring when Carter Malette trucked one to the back of the net from Gabriel Rousselle just 23 seconds into the second period. The Canadians seemed to carry most of the play in the second period but the Vikings took a 1-0 lead into the second intermission despite being outshot 13-9.

The Canadians tied the game at 9:05 of the third period as ex-Viking, Brad Richardson, slammed one home from Brendan Hill. The Vikings regained the lead when Jason Cossette banged home a rebound with 4:07 remaining from Ryan Sabourin and Olivier Brunet.

With just under two minutes remaining, the Canadians pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker but the Vikings didn’t allow for them to get set up and with just 1:28 left on the clock Sabourin fired one into the abandoned cage at the far end making it 3-1 from Rousselle.

The Vikings held onto take the game 3-1, taking a 3-1 series lead back to Casselman. Picking up the win in the Vikings’ goal was Nick Campbell making 33 saves on 34 shots and suffering the loss in the Canadians’ goal was Jacob Lavergne making 26 saves on 28 shots.