Game 1 of the Finals on Saturday night did not disappoint.
It was a close game all the way through that wasn't over until the final buzzer (that's right - the buzzer was actually working!).
The Flyers got on the board first when Ryan Cross scored half-way through the first period. A couple of minutes later, the Flyers added another when Matt Kreeft was successful on a penalty shot. The Omegas came back a few minutes later on a goal by Lance Ross. Mark Zylstra tied it up for the Omegas when he scored with two minutes to go in the first.
The Flyers took a 3-2 lead when Dustin Bouma scored half-way through the second period. Five minutes later, the Omegas tied it up again on a goal by Tim Allen. The teams went into the third period all tied up at 3-3.
The Omegas led for the first time in the game when Curtis Tamming scored in the first minute of the third period. This goal put the Omegas up 4-3. Although there was much action after this, neither team scored again, giving the Omegas a 4-3 win. The Omegas lead the best of three final series 1-0.
Lance Ross is the Player of the Game. He had a goal & two assists for the Omegas.
The Flyers will hope to tie the series up this Friday (March 21) and send it to a third game next week Saturday (March 29).

Game 1
Saturday, March 15 @ RBC Centre (rink 2)
7:00pm - Flyers vs. Omegas

Game 2
Friday, March 21 @ Pt. Edward Arena
7:00pm - Omegas vs. Flyers

Game 3 (if necessary)
Saturday, March 29 @ RBC Centre (rink 2)
6:30pm - Flyers vs. Omegas

Just like they had done in last year's playoff series, the Hawks & Omegas needed a third game to decide it.
The Hawks got on the scoreboard first when Calvin Pelleboer scored with 4:21 to go in the first period. Less than a minute later, Ryan Tamming, who played a great game for the Hawks, scored to put the Hawks up 2-0.
The tables turned in the second period. Early in the period, Lance Ross scored to put the Omegas on the board. Four minutes later, Ian VanReenen scored a "flukey" one to tie the game up at 2-2. A couple of minutes later Jared Millberry scored to give the Omegas a 3-2 lead. This is how the score remained going into the third period.
The third period was quite "wide open". Both teams were going back & forth with great chances. If not for the outstanding goaltending on both ends, the game would've been much different. With all these chances, neither team was able to get one past either goalie.
The Hawks pulled their goalie in the last minute, but Mark Zylstra scored into the empty net to seal the trip to the finals for the Omegas.
We'll let the goaltenders, Pete Lindhout & Mike Ward share the Player of the Game honours for this one.

With this victory, the Omegas will meet the Flyers in the Finals, starting tonight (Saturday, March 15).

Here is the schedule for the remainder of the playoffs:

Friday, March 14 @ Pt.Edward Arena
7:00pm - Hawks vs. Omegas

Saturday, March 15 @ RBC Centre (rink 2)
7:00pm - Flyers vs. winner of Hawks/Omegas series

Friday, March 21 @ Pt.Edward Arena
7:00pm - Flyers vs. winner of Hawks/Omegas series

Saturday, March 29 @ RBC Centre (rink 2)
6:30pm - Flyers vs. winner of Hawks/Omegas series

Facing elimination, the IceDogs came storming out of the gates in game 2 of their series against the Flyers. Dave VanGorkum scored two minutes into the game to give the IceDogs an early 1-0 lead. Five minutes later, Dan VanReenen scored for the Flyers to tie it up at 1-1.
Fifteen seconds into the second period, Duncan Vanderwal scored to give the IceDogs the lead once again. This was the only goal scored in the second period, so they went into the third with the IceDogs up 2-1.
The teams went back and forth throughout the third period, but Josh Tamminga & Rick Jones were both playing great in net for their respective teams.
It was looking like the 2-1 lead would stick for the IceDogs and they would send the series to a third game, but with 3:36 to go in the third, Dave Groendyk scored for the Flyers to tie it up at 2-2. Less than a minute later, Joel VanVeller scored another goal for the Flyers, who suddenly found themselves up 3-2 with less than three minutes to play in the third.
The IceDogs poured on the pressure in the last few minutes, trying their best to tie it up, but the Flyers held on for the 3-2 win.
I'm not even going to pick an individual for the Player of the Game. This was a good, clean game (only one penalty in total) with both teams putting in a real "team effort".
With the victory, the Flyers have won the series and will play in the final series against the winner of the series between the Hawks & Omegas.

In the later game, the defending champion, Hawks were facing elimination.
This game had a "cautious" feel to it, as the game went scoreless until Dave Vanoostveen scored just past the half-way point of the second period. Dan Feenstra scored one more later in the period to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead going into the third.
When Dave Vanoostveen scored again in the first minute of the third, it looked like the Hawks were going to be able to put it on cruise. However, this feeling didn't last long, because two minutes later Chad VanReenen scored to bring the Omegas back to within two goals.
With 5:30 to go in the third, Ryan Nutma scored a huge goal for the Hawks to extend their lead to 4-1. The Omegas didn't give up, and with 1:17 to go, Zach VanReenen scored to cut the Hawks' lead to 4-2. The Omegas continued to pressure, but Devon Deboer scored an empty netter to seal the deal for the Hawks with a 5-2 victory.
Here again, its another tough choice to pick an individual for the Player of the Game, but we'll let Dave Vanoostveen & Mike Ward share the honours.
With this win, the Hawks have tied up the series. These two teams will battle it out for the third and deciding game of the series this coming Friday. The winner will play the Flyers in the Finals, starting on Saturday night.