The Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL) will have a new champion as the Chatham Maroons are out of this year's playoffs.
The team was knocked out by the Stratford Warriors in Game 5 of the best-of-seven second-round series.
The Maroons won Game 1, the team's 16th straight win dating back to the regular season, but lost the next four.
"We had a game plan going into the series, and unfortunately, we didn't really execute. Plain and simple, I think it comes down to work ethic and compete and what team wanted it more," said Brennan Feasey, Maroons' head coach and general manager.
The loss in Game 3 was especially heartbreaking as Stratford scored early in the second overtime to take a 2-1 series lead.
"It took a little bit of wind out of our sails," added Feasey.
Despite this, he believed his team came out for the next two games with a lot of jump in their step. However, each was dominated by Stratford, as they won 7-1 and 5-1.
Goaltender Samuel DiBlasi, who finished top 10 in the regular season for save percentage, was pulled in both games. In Game 4, DiBlasi let in two goals on just three shots. In Game 5, he allowed five goals on 32 shots.
These two games lowered DiBlasi's save percentage below .900 while giving him a nearly 4.00 goals-against average (GAA).
The lack of offense in the final two games wasn't from a lack of trying. The Maroons averaged 35 shots, but Stratford goalie Noah Bender was nearly perfect.
Ewan McChesney finished the playoffs with the most points for the Maroons, nine in nine games.
Trevor Zanutto led the way in goals, scoring seven. This was two more than Santiago Jimenez, who elevated his play in the playoffs after scoring only once during the regular season.
Feasey had a lot of good things to say about Jimenes and his linemates Xandre Aitken and Matthew Crawford.
"They were fantastic, arguably our best line all playoffs. Hopefully, we can get all of them back next year."
Stratford will play either the Elmira Sugar Kings or St. Marys Lincolns in the Western Conference finals.
