Chippawa skates to 6-0 win over Woodstock Navy Vets

By DAN DAKIN Review Sports Writer

The Review NIAGARA FALLS – As a goaltender, it's Chad Collins' job to carry the weight of the team on his shoulders.So, when the Chippawa RiverHawks let a two-goal lead slip with three minutes to play in regulation during Game 2 of the Niagara District Junior C Hockey League championship series, he took it personally. And he wasn't about to let it happen twice. Instead, the 21-year-old netminder put together one of his best performances of the season and collected his first shutout of the playoffs in a 6-0 thumping of the Woodstock Navy Vets Thursday night at the Chippawa-Willoughby Memorial Arena.The Mick & Angelo's RiverHawks held leads of 3-0 after one period and 5-0 after two before wraping up their second victory of the Niagara junior C final, which resumes Saturday in Woodstock with Chippawa leading the best-of-seven series 2-1. Collins, who helped the RiverHawks win the Ontario junior C championship last year, was as frustrated as anyone by the questionable goal that gave Woodstock an overtime win in Game 2. "I take a lot of things personally as a goaltender. I feel like I'm the quarterback of the team, and I'd live or die for these guys," Collins said. Last night, he faced just 17 shots, but came up big when needed. That, combined with Woodstock's struggling defence, resulted in the lopsided victory. "I'd never let a team embarrass us twice," said Collins, who celebrates his 21st birthday today. "It's good, but it's only one little stepping stone. This game means nothing unless we follow it up. Saturday, it's business" The RiverHawks got down to business quickly with three unanswered goals in the first. Captain Tim Velemirovich opened the scoring by knocking a loose puck through the five-hole of Woodstock netminder Mike Matika four minutes in, and R.D. Lacroix tipped in a shot from Beau Hull eight minutes later. Hawks leading scorer Joe DeCarlo made it 3-0 with a goal on a shorthanded breakaway late in the period, and followed that up with another marker in the second. Robert Orr widened the gap to 5-0 with a goal late in the second, before Velemirovich rounded out the scoring with a wraparound goal six minutes into the closing stanza. Woodstock coach Scott Brooke said the loss was a disappointing followup to Game 2. "We were pretty happy when we got the win back at home," he said. "We were feeling pretty good, and we were hoping the momentum would carry over, but we just didn't have it right from the drop of the puck." Chippawa outshot the Navy Vets 28-17 and controlled virtually all aspects of the game. "I thought we were really soft in our own end," Brooke said. "We just didn't come to compete. They were winning battles and you have to give them full credit." Game 4 faces off at 7:45 p.m. Saturday in Woodstock. Game 5 is Sunday at 7 p.m. in Chippawa, while Game 6 is Tuesday in Woodstock. NOTES: Chippawa was without Sean Milton, who broke a knuckle in his right hand thanks to a slash in OT in Game 2. Milton is expected to be back within the next couple of games...The RiverHawks are organizing a fan bus to Woodstock for Saturday's game that will leave from Niagara Falls Golf Club. For more information, phone 905-358-GOLF.