Owen Sound dethrone the Spitfires

Jesse Michael for The Canadian Press

OWEN SOUND, Ont. — The last time the Owen Sound Attack faced Windsor in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs, the Spitfires cruised to a lopsided series win.

This time, the Attack returned the favour.

Defenceman Matt Petgrave led the way with a hat trick and an assist, and the Attack advanced to the OHL final after disposing the Spitfires 10-4 on Wednesday night.

Owen Sound won the Western Conference final in five games as Windsor, the two-time defending OHL champions, saw its streak of ten straight series victories end.

“It was a huge game in my career,” Petgrave said. “Getting the chance to eliminate the Windsor Spitfires in the Western Conference final and play in the OHL final is definitely exciting.”

The last time the two teams met was in the 2009 conference quarter-final, which Windsor swept on its way to winning the OHL and Memorial Cup titles.

This season, it’s Owen Sound’s turn to try and win some hardware. The Attack will now face the Eastern Conference champion Mississauga St. Michaels Majors in a battle of the two top ranked teams in their respective conferences.

“It’s very exciting for the community,” Owen Sound coach Mark Reeds said after the game. “We’re all very elated. The players have really bought in this year and we’ve worked very hard.”

Michael Halmo and Andrew Shaw each had two goals for the Attack, while Joey Hishon, Garrett Wilson and Jarrod Maidens also scored.

Brady Vail had a hat trick for the Spitfires, while Alex Khokhlachev also scored.

Owen Sound fell behind early, as Khokhlachev scored his ninth of the post-season, picking up a loose puck in front of Attack goalie Scott Stajcer and stuffing it into the back of the net.

The Attack responded just over three minutes later, as Petgrave scored his first of the playoffs on a shot from just inside the blue-line, beating a screened Jack Campbell.

Windsor retook the lead at the 9:38 of the first. Defenceman Ryan Ellis made a great pass to Vail, who ripped a shot by Stajcer.

The see-saw battle continued a few minutes later, as Hishon blew by the Windsor defence, cut in front and slid the puck by the outstretched pad of Campbell, tying the game 2-2.

After what was turning into a tight-checking second period, Owen Sound broke out with two goals in the final five minutes, as Petgrave scored his second and third goals to complete the hat trick.

The flood gates opened in the third, as the Attack put six past a clearly beaten up Campbell.

Ellis, a Nashville Predators draft pick, played his final game as a Spitfire and said it was tough to end their season with a loss.

“We’re used to finishing the last two years with wins,” he said.

“But down the road you look at it and realize how incredible our teams have been through the last three of four years. I’m proud to be a Windsor Spitfire and always will be.”

Campbell stopped 25 shots to take the loss, while Stajcer made 34 for the win.

Game one between the Attack and Majors will be determined when the OHL releases its schedule Thursday.

Notes: With the win, the Attack also punched their ticket to the Mastercard Memorial Cup. Both teams in the OHL final earn an automatic berth as Mississauga is the host team for this year’s event.