The stage is finally set for the Junior C Schmalz Cup quarter-final round between the Alliston Hornets and their Western Division counterparts.

The Walkerton Hawks defeated last year's Western league champion Kincardine Bulldogs last night with a 3-2 overtime win to take the series four games to two.

Series Schedule

There won't be much time for the Hawks to catch their breath however, as they will board the bus to Alliston this Saturday night for a 7:30 p.m. start of game one of another best-of-seven series with the Hornets. Live updates will be reported right here at www.allistonherald.com.

For their part, the Hornets have been resting up since winning the Georgian Bay Mid-Ontario title last Sunday night with a 7-2 hammering of the Penetang Kings in game five of their best-of-seven championship series.

The rest of the schedule for the Hornets/Hawks series is as follows: Game two will be played this Sun., March 23 in Walkerton at 7 p.m. at the Walkerton Community Centre; Game three will be played back in Alliston at the New Tecumseth Recreation Complex on Wed., March 26 with an 8 p.m. start; Game four is back in Walkerton on Fri., March 28 at 8:30 p.m. If nobody sweeps it in four, game five will be played Sun., March 30 in Alliston at 6:30 p.m. with game six slated for Wed., April 2 in Walkerton at 8:30 p.m. and game seven in Alliston at 8 p.m. on Wed., April 4.

The series is being updated live on CKNX Radio AM 920 out of Wingham during their news breaks. Although you might not be able to pick up the broadcasts on your radio, audio streaming is available online on your computer with Windows Media Player.  In addition, the Herald's Brian Lockhart will take part in a pre-series show tomorrow morning (Friday) to talk about the teams and the upcoming games along with a sports reporter from Walkerton.

Having never played each other before, the first game Saturday night could be interesting as the two teams feel each other out.

The Herald obtained some scouting information from contacts in Kincardine who have been following the Western Jr. C loop all season. Earlier this week they pegged the Hawks to take down the Bulldogs and that prediction panned out.

That despite the fact, Kincardine topped the regular season stats with a 36-3 record for 73 points. Walkerton finished second with 28-9 and just 59 points comparatively.

The Western scouts say Walkerton's rush into this next series and Alliston's rest time will give the Hornet boy in green and gold a huge advantage, at least in the first two games played back-to-back this weekend.

Walkerton is described as a very physical team and when their goals start coming, they come in bunches. In one game against Kincardine, they fired in five goals in five minutes.

Watch for the top Hawk on the ice, No. 16 Mike Roelofsen who was added to the team's roster late in the season. The 5'9" 190 lb Centre out of Chatham is a former Barrie Colt who is arguably the best player in the Western Division this season. The left-hander, who just turned 21 on Wednesday, has 17 goals and 19 assists in just 19 games played with the Hawks this season.

When his line hits the ice, say the scouts, the goals start coming. No. 9 Curtis Johnson is also a good player. The 6'-190 lb, 21-year-old centre  actually the team's leading scorer in regular-season play with 23 goals and 41 assists in 32 games. He comes from the ranks of the Tier II Stouffville Spirit and has played Jr. B with the Owen Sound Greys.

The Hawks are anchored defensively by the pairing of No. 3 Andrew Hetherington and No. 23 Justin Wakewich.

The Hawks goaltending is solid, with Clayton Fritsch with a near perfect 8 and 1 regular season record and Trevor Vanwyck (16 and 10) between the pipes. Vanwyck has been called on almost exclusively during post season play.

What could be a little unnerving is the Hawks' sheer size. Most of the team is over 6'-tall and a few even bigger, carrying weight anywhere from 190 to 240 lbs . Only a handful are smaller than that. The Hornets run about a buck eighty on average, the one exception being Luke Vanderhulst at 6'3" and 230 lbs, but the green and gold have speed on their side.

The Hawks also score a lot of shorthanded goals with 23 in the regular season, but just two in the playoffs.

Pundits are pegging the Hornets to take the series and feel they would have had more a challenge from the Kincardine roster had it played out that way.

Tickets for the Alliston home games are on sale now at the New Tecumseth Recreation Complex kiosk. Just over 1,000 will be made available with 875 in the stands and some extra standing room space at the end of the ice and in the restaurant area. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors and $6 for children under 12. Prices are set by the Ontario Hockey Association for all post season cup races.

For any fans who want to make the two-plus hour trek to the Walkerton Community Centre, this link provides you with a map.

If you're stuck at home log onto www.allistonherald.com for compreshensive updates and colour from the games  as they are played.