The win came on the heels of a 6-1 slam-dunk Thursday in Napanee during game four.
The Hornets lost game two of the semi-final series before taking three straight to earn the right to move on to the finals against the Essex 73’s of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League.
At the end of this round, the big prize is the Schmalz cup and the Ontario championship.
Alliston led the entire game on Thursday, opening the scoring late in the first period then ending the second with a 3-0 lead.
The final three goals came in the third period.
Hopes were high for a hometown win at Sunday’s game but no one could have predicted such a lopsided victory in the final game of a semifinal series.
After finishing the first frame in a 2-2 tie, the Hornets eliminated the Raiders in the second period scoring six times including a hat-trick from Alliston centre Zenon Byblow. Three more goals followed in the third.
“I think we were confident that if we came out and played the way we needed to play we would have a good chance to win,” Alliston head coach Darrin Shannon said after Sunday’s game.
“I felt good about where we were in the series. Maybe you lose a game, but I didn’t think they would be able to beat us three times going into this game tonight.”
The series turned decidedly in the Hornets favour after both teams lost on home ice in the first two games.
“We’re playing well. We want to get the puck in deep, forecheck, cycle it, and take the puck to the net. After the first two games, that’s what I was trying to get our guys refocused on and remember what it is that’s made us a team that’s got this far - to keep it simple, get it deep, get on top of it,” Shannon said.
The final series against Essex is again going to be a mystery going into game one. The two squads are from totally different leagues and have never met, but they’ve both earned the right to meet in the final.
Essex easily eliminated the Wallaceburg Lakers in four games during the quarter-final round, then went on to win in five games over Grimsby in the semifinals - although three of those games went into overtime.
The 73’s do have some valuable experience though, having gone to the finals over the past three years and winning the championship in 2005.
“I think every series has a bit of a feeling and a process at the start and I’m sure that’s what will happen in this series.” Shannon said.
Games start this Sun., April 20 at 6:30 p.m. in Alliston at the New Tec Rec Complex. Game two and three are in Essex April 26 and 27, with game four returning to Alliston April 29. If needed game five is in Essex May 1, game six is May 3 in Alliston and game seven May 4 in Essex.
Tickets to Sunday’s game are available at the front kiosk of the New Tec Rec Complex. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors and $6 for children under 12.
Look to the Weekend Herald and online at www.allistonherald.com for full schedule details when it is available.
