At the start of this year’s Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League season, “Looks good on paper” was what one had to say with regards to the Arnprior Packers team.
That’s Arnprior Packers President Dustin Dorken.
The club’s home opener ended up being a make-up game at the end of the campaign, and facilities at the Nick Smith Centre are still a work in progress.
Dorken is proud of the turn around for this year’s Green Shirts.
Despite the Arnprior Packers .772 record and 21-point bulge to end the season, Dustin Dorken says the last couple of weeks has been no cakewalk for the club.
Dorken says the Junior Bears road win at the Barbara Ann Scott Arena last Thursday was the final piece of the puzzle.
Official determination of the Richardson Division’s fourth seed now depends on who wins the play-in round between the Athens Aeros and the Renfrew Junior Timberwolves; it’s a best of five series that began last night at the myFM Centre.
Whoever wins then advances to play the Packers.
The Packers President says the team has no preference on who it faces, as in the playoffs, everyone’s hungry.
The Martin Division play-in, between Winchester and Embrun is tied at a win apiece after Sunday’s play.
Dorken says the Packers will try to keep sharp during what could be a substantial rest.
An earlier playoff crossover suggestion was soundly voted down by franchise representatives.
The matter of being the team to hoist the Barkley Cup is still some time to come.
The last time the trophy was lifted in Eastern Renfrew County was by the Junior Timberwolves, in 1993.
By Rick Stow