Chiefs earn Cup trip the hard way and it won't get easier against Hamilton

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The Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs minor midget AAA hockey team is one of the best in the province.

But they’re learning an important lesson before the OHL Cup starts in a couple of weeks. That is, the playoffs are a massive grind.

The Chiefs, undefeated in their regular season, followed up a five-game first-round slog against underdog Lambton Jr. Sting by surviving a seven-game battle with the Huron-Perth Lakers to earn their Cup berth. Starting Saturday in Komoka (4:30 p.m.), they will face the Hamilton Huskies in a six-point series to decide the Alliance championship.

“It feels good to be in the finals again (after winning the major bantam title),” head coach Jason Williams, the former NHLer, said. “That was one of our goals at the beginning of the year. It doesn’t matter how you do it, as long as you do it. We know we have a tough opponent in Hamilton. There’s not really a weakness with them. You have to get off to a good start.

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“There’s no room for error.”

Fast starts haven’t been a problem for the Chiefs. They pounded Lambton 7-0 and whacked Huron-Perth 6-1 in the openers.

But Game 2s are a different story. They lost both of those, including a shocking 9-2 defeat at the hands of the Lakers.

“You need that short-term memory,” Williams said. “It’s all about, ‘Let’s put it behind us and get ready for the next one.’ I’ve been with this team two years and they always seem to do things the hard way. But going through a little bit of adversity in the first two rounds, hopefully, it makes us stronger and helps us in the long run.”

Londoner Damian Pancino, a heart-and-soul player, was a catalyst in helping close out the Lakers 2-1. He scored both goals.

“He has that capability,” Williams said. “Last two games he played, they were his best, skating-wise. Sometimes, the guys get caught up in feeling they have to score, but it’s the little things the (OHL) scouts are always looking for. It’s tight-checking in the playoffs and you can’t have any passengers. They know that everybody wants to knock them off. We’re the defending champs. If they beat you, it’s a big deal.

“It’s a different pressure when you’re expected to win. You have to be prepared and mentally in it or bad things will happen.”

Every game matters at the OHL Cup.

The best way to get ready for it is a consistent series against the Huskies.

rpyette@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/RyanatLFPress