Tim Ruhnke – Recorder & Times
Three more before playoff hockey returns to Brockville.
The Braves will host the Carleton Place Canadians at the Memorial Centre Friday night at 7:30. All three of Brockville’s remaining regular season games are at home.
At 34-16-0-2, the Braves are first in the CCHL’s Robinson Division and third overall in the 12-team Jr. A league.
Carleton Place (18-30-2-3) will miss the playoffs.
“They’re still a dangerous team, and we know the way we need to play,” Brockville captain Thomas Haynes said in an interview Thursday.
The Braves and Canadians have split their four games so far this season. Three were shutouts. In their most recent game on March 20, Brockville lost 6-4 in Carleton Place.
Haynes indicated that the Braves need to work on ensuring their level of play is consistent and that they don’t take anything for granted.
“No matter who we’re playing, we need to bring that same effort and intensity.”
Brockville had a winning month in March, but the Braves have dropped three of their last four. The Braves have been doing a lot of “high-energy work” in practice this week, according to the captain.
“Hopefully, we really step up here and be a bit better than we have been,” said Haynes.
Friday is Fan Appreciation Night at the Memorial Centre. There will be plenty of giveaways at the rink.
Renfrew had a chance to move within one point of Brockville, but the Wolves lost to Kemptville 5-2 on Wednesday night.
The Braves host Renfrew on Sunday at 3 p.m. Brockville split its four previous games with the Wolves, including a shootout victory for the Braves.
With the win Wednesday, Kemptville moved two points up on Pembroke for fifth overall.
The Braves still have a slim chance of finishing second overall. Brockville is five points behind Hawkesbury; the Hawks lost 4-2 to the league-leading Jr. Senators in Ottawa Wednesday.
Smiths Falls’ run at the final playoff spot took another hit Thursday night. The Bears are now six points behind Rockland after the Nationals shut out Cornwall 2-0.
Smiths Falls is now six points out of the final playoff spot with just five games to play. The Bears host Navan Friday night.
Original Story at Recorder.ca
