CCHL This Week

By: Jeffrey Maguire

You might think 12 points from eight games would have a coach feeling satisfied early in the junior hockey season.

That’s not how Carleton Place Canadians’ bench boss Jason Clarke views his team’s current situation. Instead of lauding his club for taking the overall points lead in the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) with three straight wins last week, Clarke is concerned about his team’s poor penalty record.

“We’ve won some games lately. But I’m embarrassed that our lack of discipline also has us leading the league in penalty minutes.”

Clarke fears his players’ disciplinary failings are going to catch up with them.

“We can’t keep taking so many penalties – not in this league. If we’re going to be successful we have to learn to stay out of the penalty box,” he laments.

Carleton Place outscored visiting Kemptville 73’s 7-5 Sunday afternoon despite taking 45 minutes in penalties. That number boosted Canadians’ overall penalty count to 227 minutes in just eight games. The next highest total belongs to Robinson Division rival Brockville Braves who have accumulated 194 minutes in the sin bin in six outings. Brockville currently trails Carleton Place by eight points in the division.

While criticizing his players for lack of discipline, Clarke does find some positives to hang his hat on!

“Our goaltending and specialty teams have been strong. Obviously our PK (penalty kill) has had to be good,” he underlines.

Rookie goalie Matt Couvrette, who starred for Valley Division champion Arnprior Packers in Junior B hockey last season, comes in for praise from his head coach.

“Matt has played quite well for us so far.”

Couvrette struggled somewhat in the first period Sunday. He was replaced by second year man Justin Laforest, who also spent a lot of time in Junior B last season. Laforest gave up three goals in 40 minutes of work, but recorded his third win with 14 saves.

Clarke is looking forward to the return of No. 1 goaltender Tony Kujava who has yet to don the pads in a CCHL regular season contest. He suffered a high ankle sprain in the pre-season which has been slow to heal.

Kujava, a 19-year-old native of Green Bay, Wisconsin had an excellent campaign in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) last season. The junior hockey league has 24 teams across the United States.

“Tony was a superstar in the NAHL last year. He’s our No. 1 guy and we look forward to his return,” Clarke underlines.

Keefe optimistic

Pembroke head coach and general manager Sheldon Keefe is cautiously optimistic following a solid start by his team. With five titles in six seasons Pembroke is always a CCHL favourite and the highly respected Keefe is the architect of their success!

“We are happy with how the season has started but understand that we haven’t seen a number of the strongest teams yet,” he said Monday morning.

“We need to continue to get better every day in order to compete in this league where anyone can beat you on any given night.”

The veteran hockey man says that with just six players returning this season “we expected there would be some growing pains.

“There certainly have been some inconsistencies within each game. But we have managed to collect points while we go through the process of improving,” Keefe adds.

“Our goal this summer was to add some pieces that could make us competitive this season and beyond. From that end we are pleased with the group so far and look forward to seeing them progress throughout the season.”

SUNDAY IN THE CCHL

Carleton Place continued to hold first place overall, outscoring Kemptville in a Robinson Division showdown, while in the Yzerman Division perennial champions Pembroke are looking good early. Lumber Kings overturned a 3-1 deficit at home against Hawkesbury Sunday night for their fifth victory.

Carleton Place 7 – Kemptville 5: Four goals in a span of just over 12 minutes in the third period allowed Canadians to improve their early season mark to 6-2, the best record in the CCHL. They outshot a blossoming Kemptville side 32-26, but trailed 2-1 and 4-3 at the intervals before rallying in the final frame. Defenceman Michael Maciag had a big afternoon firing two goals and setting up two others to pace Canadians’ offence. Rookie left winger Kevin Dufour had a goal and two helpers to move into a four-way tie atop the Carleton Place scoring parade with nine points, including four markers in six outings. Left winger Nick Erb and centre Brandon Seatter helped out with a goal and an assist apiece. Lucas Gonu scored twice for Kemptville to give him a team leading four on the season. Jesse Lussier had a goal and one assist. Justin Laforest relieved starter Matt Couvrette in the Carleton Place cage and despite yielding three goals he won his third game against one setback. Carleton Place was three for six on the powerplay and Kemptville was two for six. Canadians’ forward Stephen Baylis and 73’s defenceman Matt Shackell picked up game misconducts for fighting late in the game.

Pembroke 5 – Hawkesbury 3: Four unanswered goals in the third period allowed Lumber Kings to come from behind and send struggling Hawkesbury to their fourth defeat in five starts. Hawks, who outscored Cornwall for their initial win of the campaign Friday, led 2-1 and 3-1 at the intervals. They looked to be in the driver’s seat more than seven minutes into the final frame. But the home team struck twice in seven minutes to tie it. And with just 56 seconds left in regulation it was former Hawks’ star Stephen Hrehoriak who rifled the game winner past Carmine Guerriero. Kings’ improved to 5-1-0-1 and have rung up 11 points to top the Yzerman Division. Ben Dalpe’s unassisted tally with one second left clinched the win in front of nearly 800 Pembroke faithful. Defenceman J. J. Hart had three assists for the winners. Carl Greco on a powerplay, Liam Baird and Owen McDade had singles for Pembroke. Stefano Momesso, Shane Topf and William Plamondon had staked Hawkesbury to the early lead. 

Smiths Falls 5 – Gloucester 3: Bears continued their strong start to the campaign with a win over the struggling Rangers. Gloucester led in shots on goals 35-32, but was stymied by Smiths Falls’ rookie goalie Jimmy Howe who won his first Junior A game, kicking out 32 shots. After a scoreless opening stanza the home team took charge, netting three of the four goals scored in the middle stanza. Veteran Chris Maniccia paced Bears’ attack with two second period goals giving him seven markers and a league leading 13 points. Defenceman Tyler Akeson set up four goals while left winger Michael Buonincontri had a goal and an assist for the winners. Travis Meyer, Chad Millett and Alexandre Boivin were Rangers’ goal-getters. Bears were three for nine with the man advantage.

Nepean 4 – Brockville 1: Braves were frustrated by the outstanding net minding of Raiders’ Matt Zawadzki.  The veteran puck stopper turned aside 41 shots as Brockville out chanced the home team 42-21 but could not put enough pucks past Zawadzki. The 19-year-old from Fort Mill, South Carolina holds second place in goals against average in the CCHL at 2.20 after five games. The first period was scoreless and after Braves took a short lived lead on David Ferreira’s goal, Michael Vered netted twice in 61 seconds as Raiders led 2-1 after 40 minutes. Veteran forwards Brent Norris and Dalen Hodges put it away with third period goals. Kenneth Neil contributed three important assists. The officials were kept busy in the second period when 17 penalties were called. There were no powerplay markers scored in the contest however!

Cumberland 5 – Cornwall 2: Grads recorded their second win in six starts thanks mainly to rookie goalie Devan Tremblay who made 45 saves. The visitors out shot Cumberland 47-38. Cornwall led 2-1 after one period on a shorthanded effort by Billy Ulrick and centre Marly Quince’s league leading eighth of the campaign. Justin Pelock replied for the Navan-based Grads. In the second the home team dominated on the scoreboard, outshooting Colts 19-16 and firing four markers. Eric Clitsome scored on a powerplay and he also added an unassisted tally. Zach Rodier and Nick Martin then took turns scoring and setting each other up. Cornwall starter Justin Piccolino yielded all five goals and was replaced by James Edwardson as the clubs played a scoreless third period.

  

FRIDAY

For the first time this season all six teams were in action on the same night Friday. Carleton Place claimed the overall league points lead with a win over Gloucester to move into double figures with 10. At the end of play Friday, Kanata and Pembroke were tied at the top of the Yzerman Division with nine points apiece. Stallions won in Smiths Falls while Lumber Kings fell in a shootout at Kemptville.

Carleton Place 5 – Gloucester 3:  Canadians continue to play entertaining hockey early in the campaign. They have been in every game! Friday they won their second straight and fifth overall, against two setbacks at the hands of Robinson rivals Smiths Falls the previous weekend. Goaltending kept Gloucester in this one early. Gianmarco De Meis was peppered with 14 shots in the first period alone but his excellent play allowed the home team to escape the period tied 1-1. Carleton Place continued to dominate, outscoring Rangers 2-1 in each of the second and third periods and outshooting them 40-29 on the night. Veteran forward Luke Martin led the visitors with a goal and two assists. Centre Alex Globke continues to shine for Canadians. He scored his fifth goal and was named the first star for a second consecutive match. Newcomers Kevin Dufour and Alex Frere also beat De Meis. Alexandre Boivin had a goal and one assist in a losing cause.

Kanata 5 – Smiths Falls 3: Three unanswered tallies in the third period gave Stallions (4-2-1-0) the win at Smiths Falls. It was an excellent game with the visitors holding a slight 39-37 shots advantage. There were just six minor penalties called, three to each team. Right winger Alex Stothart nailed the winner (his first of the campaign) midway through the final frame. Derian Plouffe’s fourth went into the empty Bears’ cage with three seconds showing on the clock. Rookie forward Nic LaBurn had a goal and an assist to lead Kanata’s offence. Jesse Blais, Ryan Eardley and Yannick Crete were the Smiths Falls scorers. Brandon Lane outdueled Patrick Martin in goal to even his record at 3-3.

Kemptville 3 – Pembroke 2 (SO): Billy Cooper made 28 stops to lead 73’s to a rare win over perennial CCHL champion Pembroke. Two Kemptville shooters out of four were successful in the shootout phase after overtime failed to settle the issue. Carp native Matt Rosebrook fired his second of the season during a powerplay, 23 seconds into the final regulation period, to tie the game and force OT. Veteran Blaine Byron scored the first 73’s marker in the second after Brian Hennessey and Jordan Larson had given the visitors the early lead with first period strikes. Tyler Gaudet set up both goals for Pembroke who led the shots parade 30-24. Kings’ defenceman Philippe Drouin was ejected with one second left in the first after a dust-up with Kemptville rearguard Cody Hendsbee. Drouin was the only one to be tagged for fighting and he also took an instigator penalty.

Brockville 3 – Nepean 0: Braves surprised Raiders behind the shutout goaltending of Matthew Jenkins who earned his second win of the season. Jenkins wasn’t overly busy however, turning aside 18 shots. Brockville rifled 33 at Matt Zawadzki, 11 in each period. The home team led 2-0 after one with Nathan Todd opening scoring on a powerplay, set up by David Ferreira at 1:56. With just 1:44 left in the stanza Ferreira triggered his second to pad Braves’ lead. Brandon Cole’s powerplay tally at 8:08 of the second proved to be the final goal of the night. It was an unfriendly match with Nepean picking up 19 penalties and Brockville 13. Many were rouging of inciting an opponent calls. The only player banished was Braves’ centre Taylor Henry late in period two. He was called for checking from behind which carries an automatic game misconduct. Braves were just two for 14 with the man advantage but that turned out to be more than enough. A crowd of 742 took in the action.

Ottawa 5 – Cumberland 4 (SO): At Navan Junior Senators were successful in the shootout phase, edging Yzerman Division rival Cumberland to move two points ahead of Grads in the early season standings. Cumberland fell despite scoring three times in the final three minutes, 46 seconds of regulation to tie the contest and force overtime. Nick Martin tied it with 37 seconds left and Grads’ goalie Reilly Turner on the bench in favour of a sixth attacker. The first period was scoreless but Ottawa grabbed a 2-0 second period lead on goals by Eric Witzel and Hunter Racine. After Colin Kruse scored shorthanded for Cumberland nine seconds into the third, Sens rallied for two more by Luc Deschamps and Ben Robillard to lead 4-1. Witzel and Robillard had three points apiece. Grads scoring leader Philippe Paquette set up a pair. Overtime was scoreless but in the shootout phase Ottawa outscored Cumberland 2-1. Senators outshot Grads 36-29 with Ryan McLaughlin the winning net minder.

Hawkesbury 8 – Cornwall 6: Hawks shook off their early season lethargy in a big way, putting eight pucks past Colts’ Matt Jenkins to send nearly 300 fans home happy. It was the first win of the campaign for Hawkesbury! Defence was abandoned in this one with 14 goals scored on a combined total of 49 shots. Hawks dominated in that department with 28! Hawkesbury wingers Brandon Bussey and Francis Landers led all scorers with six points each including hat tricks for both players. The veteran forwards each struck twice during a five goal third period for the home team. Carl Faucher had a goal and three assists for the winners who trailed 5-3 after 40 minutes following a five-goal explosion by the visitors in the second stanza. Dependable Trent Durocher led Cornwall with two goals and an assist. Khalid Alli and Sean King had a goal and one helper apiece for Colts. Carmine Guerriero, with relief from Brock Crossthwaite, picked up the first net minding win of the season for Hawkesbury.

EARLY LAST WEEK

Cornwall 5 – Gloucester 1: Colts continued their impressive start Thursday with a dominating home ice performance against Rangers. With the win Cornwall (4-1) joined Smiths Falls and Carleton Place atop the Robinson Division. Rangers, who finished in the CCHL cellar last season, have struggled out of the gate early in the new campaign. They stayed in the Yzerman Division basement with two points from five games. Colts’ centre Marly Quince claimed the league goal scoring lead with a hat trick, giving him seven tallies in just four appearances. Tanner Spink, younger brother of twin sensations Tyson and Tylor who graduated from Cornwall last season, netted his first in a Colts’ uniform. Sean King also struck for the winners who outshot Gloucester 38-25. Team captain Alexandre Boivin was the only Ranger to beat winning goalie James Edwardson.

Nepean 9 – Kemptville 3: The defending champion Raiders made short work of 73’s, pouring nine goals past veteran net minder Dylan BrindAmour who didn’t have a good night Wednesday. The shots totals were a deceiving 38-33. It was all Nepean in this one! They held period leads of 2-1 and 5-2 before putting the game away with four straight goals in a span of less than five minutes in period three. Rookie winger Maxim Cote recorded his first three points of the campaign, all of them goals. Cote’s hat trick earned him second star honours. Line mate Vincert Llorca was the first star with a goal and three assists. Veteran forward Brent Norris chipped in with two goals and two helpers. That gave him a team leading nine points including five tallies. Defenceman Derek Diaz helped out on three goals. Kemptville who fell to 1-3-0-1 got singles from Stevie Ray Adams, Mason Nowak and Matt Tugnutt, son of former NHL net minder Ron Tugnutt.

Carleton Place 4 – Ottawa 1: Canadians completely dominated Wednesday’s contest in Ottawa. If it hadn’t been for the stellar work of Junior Senators’ goalie Alexandre Savard-Belanger it would have been a total rout! Carleton Place out shot Sens by a wide margin, 49-16 on the night. Road wins against Ottawa have not come easily in Canadians’ short history. They failed to win at Jim Durrell for two seasons and lost their first game there last year before turning it around with a pair of victories in the second half of last season. Newcomer Alex Globke continued to hold a hot hand. He fired his fourth goal and added an assist and was named the game’s first star. Globke moved to seven points in six games. Kevin Dufour, Luke Kasteel and Evan Peterson, on a third period powerplay, had the others for the winners. Luke Martin and Luke Edwards set-up two goals each. Eric Witzel’s first period marker was the only score for Senators.

Pembroke 4 – Kanata 0: Stallions’ stay at the top of the Yzerman Division lasted less than 48 hours. Lumber Kings grabbed the early season mantle in the division, blanking Stallions at Kanata Recreation Complex Tuesday (Sept. 18). Andy Munroe earned the first shutout of the season for Pembroke with a 27 save performance. His record improved to 2-1. Kings dominated the game, firing 41 shots at an overworked Brandon Lane. Centre Jordan Larson triggered two goals, one in each of the second and third periods. That gave him four markers and six points in five outings. Defenceman Philippe Drouin had a big night assisting on all four goals. Cody Trowell’s first of the season at 3:43 of period one was the winner. Brendan McGuire also scored during a first period powerplay.

There are 16 league games scheduled this week with five each on Friday and Sunday!