2018 Eastlink South Division Semi-Finals
(1) Yarmouth Mariners vs. (4) Truro Bearcats
Game 1 – Thursday, March 15th, 7:00PM – Mariners Center
Game 2 – Saturday, March 17th, 7:00PM – Rath Eastlink Community Center
Game 3 – Monday, March 19th, 7:00PM – Mariners Center
Game 4 – Wednesday, March 21st, 7:00PM – Rath Eastlink Community Center
Game 5 – Friday, March 23rd, 7:30PM – Mariners Center*
Game 6 – Sunday, March 25th, 7:00PM – Rath Eastlink Community Center*
Game 7 – Tuesday, March 27th, 7:00PM – Mariners Center*
*if necessary
| Yarmouth | Truro | |
| Record (MHL Rank) | 35-14-1-0 – 71 pts (2nd) | 28-20-1-1 – 58 pts (6th) |
| Last 10 Games (current streak) | 7-3-0-0 (lost 2) | 7-3-0-0 (won 1) |
| Goals For (MHL Rank) | 185 (3rd) | 150 (8th) |
| Goals Against (MHL Rank) | 137 (T-3rd) | 130 (1st) |
| Powerplay Efficiency (MHL Rank) | 21.1% (4th) | 20.1% (6th) |
| Penalty Kill Efficiency (MHL Rank) | 83.5% (5th) | 84.0% (T-3rd) |
| Top Scorer (MHL Rank) | Matt Barron (9-40-49 – 17th) | Campbell Pickard (34-35-69 – 4th) |
| Top Scoring Defenseman | Duncan McKie (7-19-26) | Riley Baggs (5-25-30) |
| Top Goaltender | Leif Hertz (28-11-1, 2.63GAA, .914SV%, 1SO) | Kevin Resop (17-19-3, 2.56GAA, .911SV%, 2SO) |
| Head to Head Record | 4-2-0-0, 8 pts, 19 GF | 2-4-0-0, 4 pts, 13 GF |
| Leading Scorer in Season Series | Aaron Maillet (3G, 3A) | Campbell Pickard (4G, 1A) |
Previous Meetings
Truro 1 @ Yarmouth 3 – September 15th
Yarmouth 3 @ Truro 6 – September 29th
Truro 1 @ Yarmouth 4 – October 7th
Yarmouth 4 @ Truro 1 – November 29th
Truro 1 @ Yarmouth 4 – December 1st
Yarmouth 1 @ Truro 3 – March 10th
Notes
- This is the second consecutive Eastlink South Division Semi-Final matchup between the Mariners and Bearcats. Last year, Truro took the series in five games en route to winning the 2017 MHL Playoff Championship
- The Mariners are searching for their first playoff series victory since 2012, when they reached what was then known as the Kent Cup Final.
- This is the second time in three years that the Bearcats have ended the regular season with 58 points to their credit. Remarkably, the last time that occurred, during the 2015-16 season, it was good enough for a first place finish in the Eastlink South Division standings
- Mariners’ goaltender Leif Hertz has been the backbone of the team between the pipes over the last two years. He’s earned 42 regular season victories during that span, including a league leading 26 this year
- As indicated above, Bearcats forward Campbell Pickard led the Bearcats in scoring during the season series with the Mariners. Incredibly, all four of the goals he scored against Yarmouth came in the same game, a 6-3 Bearcats victory back on September 29th.
- This series will feature – by a very wide margin – the most MHL coaching experience between any two clubs in the first round. Mariners’ bench boss Laurie Barron and Shawn Evans of the Bearcats bring nearly three decades of tenure behind the bench in this league.
Will MacLaren – themhl.ca