A natural hat-trick plus one for Iwachniuk – Morrisburg Jr. Lions defenceman Rylan Iwachniuk (left, #9) scored his first of four straight goals, three on the power play, off this shot in the middle of the first period. Iwachniuk put up four goals to keep the Lions on the front foot throughout most of game two of their first round playoff tilt against the Clarence Castors February 26. The Lions rescued the tie game in overtime to win 6-5.(The Leader/Blancher photo)nnOvertime game winner for Lions’ captain Dean Lapier. (File photo/Blancher photo)nnMORRISBURG – Already hampered by three of their top-five scoring forwards out with injuries, the Lions were at a disadvantage as they opened their first round playoff series against the Clarence Castors. The team suited only 17 of their 23 man roster, and had one affiliate player to go against last year’s league champions in Clarence Creek February 25.nnThe Castors wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, sending four goals past Lions’ goalie Andrew Brooks in the first period, and three more unanswered goals in the second period.nnMorrisburg were six-for-seven on the penalty kill in the first two periods, including one stint of five-on-three hockey. Most of the Lions penalty issues happened in the second period while the two teams traded penalties in the third period.nnThe Lions were unsuccessful in any comeback attempt and fell to the Castors in game one of the best-of-five-game series 7-0.nnMorrisburg bounced back from the shutout loss with a great performance in front of the hometown crowd February 26.nnRylan Iwachniuk (from Ben Pilon and Alex Bergeron) put the Lions ahead 1-0 seven minutes into the game, and followed up scoring a power play goal (assisted by Jakob Bennett and Ben Lapier) with three minutes remaining in the period. The Lions led the Castors 2-0.nnMorrisburg began the second period on a power play and it took less than a minute for Iwachniuk to find the back of the Castors’ net, assisted by Curran Gilmour. Iwachniuk followed up with his fourth goal of the afternoon four minutes later, assisted by Alex Bergeron. At the halfway point of the second period, the Lions led the Castors 4-0.nnThe Castors hit back with a pair of goals 11 seconds apart, and a power play goal two minutes later to finish the second period one goal behind the Lions. Morrisburg continued to lead 4-3 as the teams entered the third period.nnHudson Fetterly set up Josh Broad’s goal to restore the two-goal lead with 9:11 left in the third period.nnPenalties got the best of the Lions again as the Castors scored two power play goals – the second with 1:47 left in regulation – to force the game into overtime.nnTwo minutes into overtime, Lions’ captain Dean Lapier scored the overtime game winner, assisted by Ben Lapier and Carter Tait, to win the game 6-5 and tie the playoff series at one game apiece.nnThe series heads back to Clarence Creek March 4 for game three.nnGame four of the playoff series is set for the Morrisburg Arena on March 5.nnPuck drop is 3:30 p.m. Pack the barn and cheer those Lions on!
