With their 2013 Valley Division title safely locked away, the Renfrew Timberwolves will be looking for bigger fish to fry when they take on the Ottawa Junior Canadians in the Metro-Valley Conference final.
But nobody says it’s going to be easy.
The conference-leading Canadians had 60 regular-season points to Renfrew’s 43, and topped the Wolves in their two meetings – 7-5 and 5-2 – but those games were away back in the 2012 portion of the 2012-13 season.
While the Wolves have won two Valley Division titles in the past three years, over the Arnprior Packers and Perth Blue Wings respectively, both on the road in five games, the Canadians are in search of their second Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League crown in four seasons.
Ottawa swept the Clarence Creek Castors in the Metro Division final to get here.
The Wolves and Canadians open their best-of-sever series Saturday night, March 16 at Ottawa’s Brian Kilrea (Canterbury) Arena. Game time is 7:15 p.m.
Game two is a rare Monday night contest in Renfrew. Game time for the March 18 encounter at the Ma-Te-Way Activity Centre is 8 p.m.
These two franchises last met in the playoffs 20 years ago. The Wolves swept the then South Ottawa Canadians en route to winning the 1993 EOJHL title.
The next couple of weeks will tell what the 2013 meeting will bring.
Metro-Valley Final
• Saturday, March 16 in Ottawa - 7:15 p.m.;
• Monday, March 18 in Renfrew - 8 p.m.;
• Tuesday, March 19 in Ottawa - 7:15 p.m.;
• Friday, March 22 in Renfrew - 8 p.m.;
• Tuesday, March 26 in Ottawa - 7:15 p.m.;
• Friday. March 29 in Renfrew - 7:30 p.m. (Good Friday);
• Saturday, March 30 in Ottawa - 7:15 p.m.
Around the Loop
Another team the Wolves met 20 years ago, the Athens Aeros, is also still alive. They lead the Rideau Division final over the Gananoque Islanders three games to one.
The surprising Akwesasne Wolves lead the defending EOJHL champion Casselman Vikings 3-2 in the St. Lawrence final.
Both series resume Tuesday night with the series leaders at home.