For the first time since 2004, a team from Midwestern Ontario will compete in the Schmalz Cup final.
The Hanover Barons punched their ticket to face off against Essex 73's with a 5-2 win over the Raiders in Napanee in Game 7 of the semi-final.
After a scoreless first period, Barons' forward Mark McIntosh scored the first goal of the game 40 seconds into the second period on the power play. McIntosh was able to punch the puck into the net on a rebound.
Kyle Maloney expanded Hanover's lead at the 13:02 mark.
Napanee would score their first goal just over three minutes later.
In the third period, Hanover regained their two goal lead on another McIntosh power play goal.
But Napanee's Trent Williams cut into the lead, sneaking one in from below the icing line.
Hanover dug in from there, as Ryan Colquhoun fought off a stick check from the boards, cut through to the middle of the ice and snapped a shot blocker side high. That gave Hanover a 4-2 lead at 13:05 in the third period.
That pressure forced Napanee to press, and with just over a minute and a half left in the third, Sam Barrett scored on the empty net to seal the win.
Hanover goalie Derek Hartley stopped 24 of 26 shots.
The Barons now have the top four point leaders in the PJHL playoffs. Mark McIntosh leads the way with 54 points in 25 games.
He's followed by Alex McGillvary, Kyle Maloney and Ryan Colquhoun.
Game 1 of the Schmalz Cup Finals is set for this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Hanover. Game 2 will be Sunday at 7 p.m. in Essex.
The rest of the schedule has yet to be set.
The Hanover Barons won the Schmalz Cup in 1991 over the Orangeville Crushers, and in 1993 lost to Napanee.
The Kincardine Bulldogs made the Schmalz Cup Final in 1998, losing to Glanbrook. And the Wingham Ironmen made it in 2004, falling to Grimsby.
CKNX will have the call for the entire Schmalz Cup Finals between Hanover and Essex with OHA Hockey with Steve Sabourin, Johnny K and Ryan Drury.