The Can-Am finals boiled down to the two teams with the best records this season Onondaga had 2 loses over the 14 game schedule while Newtown had 4 loses. This meant for the first time in 5 consecutive championship finals with Newtown, the Redhawks captured the #1 seed and home floor throughout the playoffs.
Friday night saw a packed house at Tsha’Honnonyendakwha’ for game one of the best of seven series. The Newtown began the game ready to defend their title as defending Can-Am champs by scoring the fist three goals of the game. It wasn’t until the last minute of the first period when Brett Bucktooth tallied the first Redhawk goal to end the first period down 3-1 to Newtown.
The second period saw a reversal of momentum of the game and the series. Behind the outstanding goalie-play of Jeff Powless stopping numerous Newtown opportunities, Onondaga was able to go on a 4 goal spurt and eventually scoring an additional 5 goals in the period taking control of the period and the game leading 10-6 going into the third period.
The third period saw the continued great play of Jeff Powless and Brett Bucktooth ending the last goal of the game as the Redhawks took Game One 12-8.
Saturday the Redhawks traveled out to Newtown to continue the series for Game Two. There, Jeff Powless continued his stellar play only allowing a single goal with 5 minutes remaining in the first period. Meanwhile, Ron Cogan scored the first goal of the game only 45 seconds into the contest! Scott Ditzel was able to add to the lead 10 minutes later. To be followed by goals by Dustin Hill and Brett Bucktooth to end the first period with the Redhawks leading the home team 4-1.
The second period again saw goal-tender Jeff Powless on top of his game holding Newtown scoreless for the entire 20 minutes of the second period. The Redhawk attackers were able to add 3 goals of their own, two by Brett Bucktooth and another by Ron Cogan. The Redhawks took a 7-1 lead going into the third period.
The third period saw the Newtown goaltender hold the Redhawk attackers scoreless for the final stanza. But the home team was not able to take advantage as the Onondaga defense also held Newtown at bay until there was only 5 minutes to play when the home team was able to add the first of their two goals to close out the scoring with the Redhawks on top 7-3 and holding a 2 games to none lead in the series.
Sunday saw the action return to Tsha’Honnonyendakwha’ for Game Three. Newtown began the game with a quick goal to take a 1-0 lead. But the defending Can-Am champs had a short bench and were unable to hold off the Redhawks as Ron Cogan scored to tie the game and Neal Powless scored to give the Redhawks a 2-1 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish. The Redhawks then used ball movement and steady goaltending to claim a 14-6 win and needing one more win to advance to the 2005 President’s Cup in Kitchener, Ontario. The series now heads back to Newtown on Friday night as Onondaga will try to close out the series. Game 5 (if necessary) will be at Tsha’Honnonyendakwha’ on Saturday, August 6th at 7pm.
The Redhawks were lead this weekend by:
Brett Bucktooth 7g- 3a
Gewas Schindler 3g- 7a
Pete Benedict 1g- 8a
Ron Cogan 6g- 2a
Dustin Hill 3g- 5a
Neal Powless 3g -3a
Dwayne Porter 2g – 3a
Ed Shenandoah 0g – 5a
Scott Ditzel 2g- 2a
Murray Stout 0g- 3a
Grant Bucktooth 1g – 1a
Wewoka Shenandoah 1g- 1a
Jeff Powless 0g – 2a
AJ Bucktooth 0g – 2a
JD Jones 0g -1a
Brandy Gibson 0g -1a
Clayton Jones 0g -1a
Mike Abrams 0g -1a