By Darryl G. Smart
It certainly wasn’t the way Dave Smith, his coaching staff and the rest of the Norwich Jr C Merchants wanted to end the Provincial Junior Hockey League season.
The Ayr Centennials scored twice the first period, and two more times in the second frame to beat the Merchants 4-1 in Ayr.
With the win, the Centennials win the best-of-seven PJHL Doherty Division quarter-final series 4-1.
Darcy Winkler and Cooper Page led the way in the first period, while Calan Tanzi-Foshay and Winkler struck in the second period.
Simon Storoschuk scored the lone Merchants goal.
The Centennials will now wait for the winner of the series between the New Hamburg Firebirds and Wellesley Applejacks. The Applejacks lead the best-of-seven quarter-final 3-2.