Protests filed by the Simcoe Storm against the Norwich Merchants in the Jr C Semi-Finals west division playoffs have been denied by the OHA and OHF.

Norwich defeated Simcoe on Friday night 5-4 in double overtime to take the semi-finals series 4-games-to-1.

Simcoe launched a protest of games 3 to 5 in regards to Norwich's use of an affiliate player.

According to the Merchants website, the series remains unchanged and Norwich will await the winner of the Aylmer - New Hamburg series, which resumes tonight.   

In Junior 'C' hockey action The Simcoe Storm lost 5-4 in double overtime in Norwich last night as the Merchants clinch their second round series in five games.

New Hamburg was upset 5-1 by the Aylmer Spitfires, Firebirds lead their series two-games-to-one.
 

Tonight, New Hamburg visits Aylmer and Glanbrook hosts Caledonia.

Both games bergin at 7:30 tonight.

In Junior 'D' the Delhi Travellers outscored the Norfolk Rebels, 8-3, taking a three-games-to-nothing lead in their opening round.

The St-George Dukes edged the Tavistock Braves 1-0, giving them a two-games-to-one series lead

It's a full slate of games in Jr. D, including the Tavistock Braves hosting St. George for Game 3 of their series.  It's tied 1-1 with game time set for 7:30 in Tavistock.

Also tonight, Norfolk is at Delhi (2-0), Port Stanley takes on Lambeth (1-3), and Exeter hosts North Middlesex (3-1).  (Series scores indicated in brackets)

The Norwich Merchants are one game away from wrapping up their West Division semi-final playoffs against the Simcoe Storm. 

The Merchants easily defeated the Storm 7-2 last night in Simcoe.  Todd Poirier picked up a hat trick with a couple of powerplay goals in the third period.  Curtis Logan, Bryan Phillips, Zach Couwenberg and Tom Brady were the other scorers in the game.  Norwich was able to hold Simcoe off the scoreboard until the third period before Connor Robinson and Corey Bethune scored two quick goals in five minutes.

But it wasn't enough as the Merchants now lead the series is 3-games-to-1.  Game 5 set for tonight in Norwich - puck drops at 8 pm.

Aylmer and New Hamburg continue their playoff match up tonight.  The Firebirds won the first two games of the series with game three taking place in New Hamburg tonight at 7:30 pm.

Norwich has taken a 2-1 lead in the semi-finals of the Niagara Jr C West Division playoffs. 

The Merchants edged the Storm 2-1 last night to take the lead in the best of seven series. 

Simcoe were able to utilize the powerplay in the first period and take a 1-nothing lead.  But the Merchants answered back less then two minutes later with a short handed goal from the stick of Cole Vinnai.

The game remained tied through the second period before Wes StAmand put Norwich ahead for good on a powerplay goal almost nine minutes into the third period.

Game three goes tonight in Simcoe.  Game time there is 7 pm.  The two will be back in action Friday night back in Norwich where the Merchants could potentially wrap up the series. 

The semi-final match up between the Merchants and Storm continues tonight.

The best-of-seven series is tied at one game apiece after Norwich tied it up Sunday night.

Game three is in Norwich tonight with the puck dropping at 7:30 pm.

The two will meet up again tomorrow night in Simcoe for game four of the series with the potential of one of the teams wrapping up the series in Norwich Friday night. 

The Norwich Merchants tied up their Niagara Junior C semi final series at one game a piece with a 2-1 win over the Simcoe Storm. Game 3 of the series goes Wednesday in Norwich, game time is 7:30.

In Niagara Junior 'C' play-off action Caledonia edged the Glanbrook Rangers 3-2 in Overtime - they are are now tied at one game a piece.

The New Hamburg Firebirds took a win away from the Aylmer spitfires with a score of 3-2.

The Firebirds now lead their series 2 games to none.

The Simcoe Storm are taking on the Norwich Merchants in Simcoe at 7:00.
 

The Storm won the opening game of their semi final.

In Junior 'D' the Hagersville Hawks romped all over the Burford Bulldogs 7-3
in last night's opener of that first round series.

St-George Dukes  were out shot 6-3 at home to the Tavistock Braves to even that series at one win apiece.

The Wellesley Apple Jacks edged the Ayr Centennials 3-2 in overtime to even that series at one win each.

This afternoon the Norfolk Rebels take the Delhi Travellers at 2:00 who are down one game to none.

Then tonight the Bulldogs host the Hagersville Hawks in Game-2 of that series.  

In Local Niagara Junior C playoff action the New Hamburg Firebirds took a 4-3  win against the Aylmer Spitfires.

The Norwich Merchants took a loss to the Simcoe Storm in double overtime 3-2

The Glanbrook Rangers outscored the Caledonia Corvairs 5-2.

Tonight's action includes Caledonia at Glanbrook and the Firebirds taking Aylmer at 7:30. 

In Junior 'D' the Delhi Travellers beat the Norfolk Rebels 8-6.

The St George Dukes out scored the Tavistock Braves 5-2.

Tonight the Burford Bulldogs visit the Hagersville Hawks at 7:30.

The Ayr Centennials visit the Wellesley Apple Jacks at 7:30 and St-George tangles with Tavistock at 7:30.    

Junior D hockey playoffs are underway and the Tavistock Braves kick off their series against the St George Dukes in round one tonight. 

Game time is 7:30 pm in Tavistock.

Elsewhere, the Norfolk Rebels are in Delhi for their first game of the series.  That game has a 7:30 pm start as well.

The Thamesford Trojans have a bye in the first round after finishing first in the Yeck Conference. 

The second round of the Niagara Jr. C playoffs are set to begin tonight.

The Norwich Merchants finally wrapped up their series against the Paris Mounties Tuesday night and will face-off against the Simcoe Storm in the second round.

The Merchants finished the season in second place, 6 points behind New Hamburg and went into the first round with a promising outcome as Paris finished well behind Norwich with 26 points.  However, the Mounties went the distance and pushed their first round series to six games before the Merchants were finally able to seal the deal.

Game one of the semi-finals series between the Merchants and Storm is in Norwich tonight at 8 pm.

The other West Division series match-up has the Aylmer Spitfire taking on the first place New Hamburg Firebirds.  That game is at 7:30 pm in New Hamburg. 

It may have taken longer then they wanted but the Norwich Merchants advanced to the second round of the Niagara Jr. C West Division playoffs.

The Paris Mounties were first on the scoreboard with a goal from Bryan Warner about 5 minutes into the game.  But the Merchants capitalized on the powerplay and tied the game at one apiece in the first.

Paris was quick to the draw taking the lead only 34-seconds into the second period. But the game was far from over with Norwich responding with two quick goals, including a shorthanded shot from Todd Poirier.  Paris answered back with an unassisted goal from Ian Fowler but it wasn't enough as the Merchants had three more goals, including an empty netter by Tom Brady, and eventually went on to defeat the Mounties 6-3.

The series wrapped up 4-games-to-2 for Norwich.  They now move on to the second round of the playoffs where they'll face the Simcoe Storm.  Game one is Friday night in Norwich at 8 pm. 

Other West Division action will see the New Hamburg Firebirds facing off against the Ayler Spitfire in the second round.

After posting an impressive 26-6-4 regular season, the Thamesford Trojans can kick back and relax for the first round of the playoffs.

The Trojans have earned a bye with a league-best 56-points in the Southwestern Ontario Jr. D Hockey League.

In the McConnell Conference, the #3 seed Tavistock Braves draw the #6 seed St. George Dukes.  That series will begin Friday night in Tavistock at 7:30. 

Other match-ups around the league include: *All series are best 4 out of 7 games.

McConnell Conference

#1 Delhi VS. #8 Norfolk

#2 Hagersville VS. #7 Burford

#4 Ayr VS. #5 Wellesley

Yeck Conference

#1 Thamesford - BYE

#2 Lambeth VS. #7 Pt. Stanley

#3 Exeter VS. #6 N. Middlesex

#4 Mt. Brydges VS. #5 Lucan

Glen Howard has advanced into the Dominion Tankard Ontario men's curling championship.

Howard needed only to score a point in the 11th end to edge Brampton's Peter Corner 7-6 in a Page 1-2 playoff on Saturday.

Howard's rink is playing for its seventh straight Tankard title.

Corner will get another chance to over power Howard if he can advance to the final.

Corner will take on Mike Anderson in today's semifinal after Anderson's Thornhill rink cruised by Brampton's Dayna Deruelle 7-3 in the Page 3-4 playoff.

Woodstock's Wayne Tuck Junior is out after being defeated 6-5 by Dayna Drouelle.

The semi finals are scheduled for 9:30 this morning (Sunday) and finals go today at 2 this afternoon.

In Local Niagara Junior C west division playoffs The Norwhich Merchants tied their series by beating the Paris Mounties 8-3.

Game 5 goes this afternoon at 2pm at the Norwich Community Centre.

The Dundas Blues took a 4-3 loss in double overtime to the Chippawa Riverhawks.

The Hawks take a 3 games to 2 series lead.

Dundas will try and even the series up at 7:00 tonight.

And in Junior 'D' play the Tavistock Braves took a 5-1 win over  the St. George Dukes.

In Local Niagara Junior C playoff action he Paris Mounties doubled the Merchants in Norwich, 4-2, last night.

Tonight, the Paris Mounties and Norwich Merchants play at the Brant Sports Complex with the Mounties taking a two-games-to-one series lead in their quarter final series.

Woodstock's Wayne Tuck went out on top at the Stratford Tankard today. 

Tuck prevailed over Mark Kean's rink this afternoon 11-6. 

Tuck's rink does not qualify for the tournament's playoff, and has a bye in tonight's final round-robin draw. 

Mark Kean finishes out with a 7PM match against Chris Gardner, and will also miss the playoff cut.

The Norwich Merchants are home tonight in Game 3 of their series against the Paris Mounties. 

The series is tied 1-1.   Puck drop tonight is set for 8PM.

The Merchants won the opening game 3-0 on home ice, before Paris rebounded with a 5-3 win.

Game 4 is Saturday night back in Paris.

Game 5 goes Sunday afternoon at 2PM in Norwich.

Wayne Tuck and the Woodstock Curling Club had two victories on Thursday during the Ontario Men's Curling Championship in Stratford. 

In the 8th draw, Tuck and his team were 7-6 winners over Bryan Cochrane and the Rideau Club.  Tuck picked up his second win last night beating Greg Balsdon and the Loonie Club 8-7.
 

Innerkip native Mark Kean defeated Balsdon 11-5 in the 8th draw and had a bye in the 9th.
 

Tuck and Kean will face off in the 10th draw this afternoon at 2 p.m.

Woodstock's Wayne Tuck and Innerkip native Mark Kean both suffered a tough loss in the 7th draw on the third day of the Ontario Men's Curling Championship in Stratford.

Tuck and his crew were defeated 9-5 by Dayna Deruelle and the Brampton Curling Club. 

Tuck will be back on the ice this afternoon at 2pm to face Bryan Cochrane of the Rideau Curling Club.

Kean went down 9-1 against Cochrane and the Rideau Club Wednesday night.  Kean and the Annandale Club will be back in action this afternoon as well against Greg Balsdon and the Loonie Curling Club.

The Ontario Men's Curling Championship continues in Stratford today with Woodstock's Wayne Tuck lost to Thornhill's Mike Anderson 8-6.

Tuck also lost in just 4-ends this morning to Glenn Howard, 7-1.

Tuck is now 2-4 on the tournament.

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Innerkip-native Mark Kean lost a tight match with Dayna Deruelle, 8-6 this afternoon.  It was tied 6-6 in the 10th end, when Kean rubbed a guard with his final rock, sealing the win for Deruelle.

Kean did win this morning's draw 7-4, and now sits at 2-4 on the tournament.

It wasn't the outcome the Vets had hoped for. 

New Hamburg advanced to the next round of the Niagara Jr. C playoffs after sweeping Woodstock in four games. 

The Firebirds scored twice in the first period with goals from Kory Nowak and Taylor Wood.  But Vets netminder, Michael Roefs stopped 29 shots in the second and third periods to hold the Firebirds off before the Vets finally got on the scoreboard in the final period.  Derek Cowing's powerplay goal, assisted by Devon Young got Woodstock in the game but it wasn't enough as New Hamburg went on to win 2-1. 

The Firebirds now await the winner of the Norwich-Paris series that is tied at one game apiece.

The Navy Vets finished the season at 8-27-1.

Innerkip native Mark Kean faced Ontario Champion Glenn Howard and his Coldwater rink in the final draw at the Ontario Men's Curling Championship in Stratford Tuesday night. 

Kean was sitting at 1 and 2 at the tournament going into the 4th draw and came out at 1 and 3 after losing 6-4. 

Kean is back in action this morning at 9:00 against Mike Anderson and the Thorndale rink.

At the Ontario Men's Curling Championship in Stratford this afternoon, Innerkip native Mark Kean lost to Jake Higgs, 9-7.

Kean's rink falls to 1-2 for the tournament.

It doesn't get any easier, as Kean faces defending Ontario Champion Glenn Howard and his Coldwater rink.  That starts at 7PM.

The Vets are facing a season ending situation when they hit the ice in Woodstock tonight.

With New Hamburg up 3 games to none, Woodstock must win to stay alive in the first round of the Niagara Jr. C playoffs. 

The best of seven series would be complete with a Firebirds victory.

Game time is 7:45 pm at the Southwood arena.

Innerkip native Mark Kean opened the first day of the Ontario Men's Curling Championship with a 1-1 record.

Kean's rink opened with a 9-3 loss to Peter Corner of Brampton.

In the second draw, they got the best of Daryl Shane's Listowel rink in a 10-8 victory.

The 3rd draw begins at 2 o'clock this afternoon in Stratford.

n local Junior 'C' hockey action the New Hamburg Firebirds will be looking for a clean sweep of the Woodstock Navy Vets.

The Vets took a painful 7-3 loss in New Hamburg Saturday night despite the efforts of Kyle Robertson who scored twice for the Vets and a goal by Andy Fallowfield.

The  Woodstock Navy Vets will make a final effort to get on board when they face the Firebirds Tuesday night at Woodstock's Southwood arena.

The puck drops at 7:45.

The firebirds are currently in first place of the west division.

In other action the The Norwich Merchants were taken by surprise in their best of 7 series.

The Paris Monunties came out on top 5- 4

In the east division the Chippawa Riverhawks take first place after defeating the Dundas Blue 2-0 Saturday night.

In local Niagara Junior 'C' hockey action the New Hamburg Firebirds edged the Woodstock Navy Vets 5-4 to take a commanding 2 games to nothing lead in the best of 7 series.

Christian Babb tossed in a pair of goals for the Vets, along with Devon Young and Kyle Jones also scoring.

Goaltender Michael Roefs has faced 95 shots the series.

Game 3 goes tonight in New Hamburg.

In other action the Norwich Merchants took the Paris Mounties for a ride outscoring them 3-0

and In Junior 'D' the  Hagersville Hawks dumped the Delhi travellers 5-2

Niagara Jr. C Playoffs hit the ice tonight for Game 1 of the Norwich/Paris series, as well as Game 2 of Woodstock and New Hamburg.

The Merchants are on home ice against the Mounties for their series opener that starts at 8 o'clock. 

The Navy Vets are on the road in New Hamburg tonight, after dropping Game 1 of the series 2-0 on Tuesday.

New Hamburg has taken the lead in the first round of playoffs against the Navy Vets.

Woodstock hosted game one of the first round of the Niagara Junior C playoffs Tuesday night at the Southwood arena.

The Firebirds got onto the scoreboard mid-way through the 1st period with a goal from Jaden Goetz, assisted by Brandon Yantzi.

Despite tight defence and a brilliant 42 save goaltending effort by Woodstock's Michael Roefs, Sean Kienapple was able to cash in again as the Firebirds went on to blank the Vets 2-0.

The Firebirds now lead the best-of-seven series 1-0 with game two set for Friday night in New Hamburg.  Game time is 7:30 pm.