(Orangeville, ON) – The Buffalo Junior Sabres players knew they blew a big chance to lock up the OJHL West Division in downtown Buffalo last Wednesday. They vowed they would not make the same mistake at Orangeville in their final game of the regular season.
Eight different players scored goals as the Jr. Sabres routed the Flyers 8-2 to stay ahead of Georgetown, who also won Saturday night, and clinch first place in the division as well as the top seed in the South-West Conference playoffs, which for Buffalo begin Monday night at home against the Burlington Cougars.
Scoring for the Junior Sabres in the regular season finale were Nolan Sheeran, Max Mikowski, Nick Scamurra (shorthanded), Tyler Gjurich, Pat Egan (power play), Sean Federow, Dylan Howatt (power play) and Tim Kielich (shorthanded). Parker Gahagen stopped 30 of 31 shots until Bobby Bloomfield relieved him in the third period to get some ice time, stopping 8 of 9 shots.
This the first time the Buffalo Jr. Sabres have finished in first place while competing in a Canadian league. The franchise’s previous first place finish was in the North American Hockey League as the Niagara Scenics during the 1993-94 season.
