Fans who have witnessed the tooth and nail battle that the St Charles College Cardinals and Lo-Ellen Park Knights have waged in the past two SDSSAA Division I Boys Hockey finals may have sighed in disappointment upon viewing a 5-2 scoreboard following game one of the 2026 championship series.

For as much as the game seemed to lack a touch of the intensity that has made the previous clashes "must-see hockey", the truth is that the game was tied at 2-2 at the end of the second period of play Saturday at the Garson Arena before Lo-Ellen scored three unanswered third period goals, securing the early series lead in the process.

Nicho Labreque netted a hat trick and Drake Taylor enjoyed a five point outing (2G + 3A) as the Knights bounced the regular season champs.

Will Burns and Ashton Pitawanakwat replied in a losing cause as SCC looks to regroup quickly, with game two set for Monday (February 23rd) at 7:30 p.m. at the Gerry McCrory Sports Complex, with game three taking place Wednesday night at T.M. Davies Community Centre in Walden.

"I think we're a little more hyped this year, a little more ready," noted Lo-Ellen captain Lincoln Lachance, now in his second year with the team. "We're all on the same page right now, really dialed in, really excited."

The 2025-2026 season marks the first time that Lachance has ever donned a letter, though he certainly can see the case to be made with Lo-Ellen coaches Ryan Yurich and Alex Vendramin.

"I think my coaches saw me as someone who is very supportive of my teammates, especially the newer, younger guys coming in, grades tens and elevens," said Lachance. "I just try and play a positive role and work as hard as I can on the ice, getting the boys going."

A familiar face within the local rep hockey scene dating back to his start with the Sudbury Novice Wolves during the 2015-2016 season, Lachance has mixed in time spent with "AAA" teams as well as the Copper Cliff Redmen.

And still there is something special about the setting of a high-school final that will draw several hundreds of fans per game. "It's incredible," said Lachance. "All of the students come out to support their team, their school."

"It's a different level when you're supporting your actual school. I could not have dreamed of a better last year of hockey."