Brighton Braves in the play-off hunt

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Ray Yurkowski

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Atom Braves' Chris Moran tries to control the puck in the opening game of OMHA play-offs round two against the Lakefield Chiefs at Brighton arena on the weekend.

Ray Yurkowski, Quinte EMC

Atom Braves' Chris Moran tries to control the puck in the opening game of OMHA play-offs round two against the Lakefield Chiefs at Brighton arena on the weekend.

EMC Sports - Brighton - There was some good news and bad news for Brighton hockey fans after another weekend of OMHA play-off action.

The Atom AE squad won both of their weekend games (5 - 2 away and 3 - 2 at home) to take a best-of-five series lead over the Durham Crusaders. Scoring for the Braves were Garrett Bird (four), Kyle Crowe, Isaiah Blackmore, Christian Todhunter and Kyle Gunter with assists from Gunter (three), Crowe (two), Bird and Aidan Hussey. Goaltender Garrison Moore picked up both wins in net. The series continues on Sunday at Oshawa and returns to Brighton (if necessary) at 1 p.m. on February 11.

The Peewee alternate entry (AE) Braves took a 5 - 3 lead in their six-point series against the Lakefield Chiefs with a 9 - 1 win on the road. James Wallace (two), Raphael Ducharme (two), Brendan Carr, Lucas Waterhouse, Hannah Mumby, Jordan Ibbotson and Cody Borchert scored for the Braves with assists from Wallace (three), Coletan Foster (three), Mumby (two), James Zeldenrust, Borchert, Carr, Tristan Flatt, Ibbotson, Kal Hietala, Shane Barry and Ducharme. Goaltenders Quin Van Blaricom and Denver Watt combined in net for the win. The series returns to Brighton arena at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The Novice Braves split a pair of home games last weekenda 7 - 3 victory over the Lakefield Chiefs and a 6 - 3 loss to the Tweed Hawksas they continue their preliminary round 12-game tournament schedule. Brighton goals were scored by Michael Patrick (three), Aaron Molenhuis (two), Andrew Phillips, Sarah Fielding, Billy Tarbett, Daxtin Nicholls and Braeden Shephard with assists from Patrick (five), Phillips (two), Molenhuis (two), Thomas Cheer (two), Sloan McLean (two), Jadyn Schmoll and Nicholls. The series continues this weekend at Douro on Saturday and Lakefield on Sunday.

The Atom Braves opened the second round of the OMHA play-offs with a 7 - 3 loss at home against the Lakefield Chiefs. Scoring for the Brighton squad were Jacob Tinney, Brody Hess and Sam Phillips with assists from Max Towers and Phillips. The series continues at Lakefield on Saturday and returns to Brighton arena at 6:30 p.m. on February 7.

The Bantam AE squad continued their preliminary round tournament (two home and away games against both the Tweed Hawks and Campbellford Colts) with their first loss in three games: 2 - 1 at home against the Colts. Robbie Saunders scored the lone Brighton goal with assists from Ty Shemko and Thaddeus VanVelzen. The overall winner advances to the OMHA semi-final. The series continues on February 4 at Tweed and February 8 at Campbellford.

After outscoring the Lakefield Chiefs 29 - 2 to win the first round of the OMHA Bantam "C" play-offs, the Braves opened the second-round action last weekend with a pair of losses (3 - 2 and 2 - 0) at home against the Bancroft Jets. The best-of-five series continues with a pair of games (if necessary) this weekend at Bancroft.