SIJHL This Week

Hard to see Flyers coming back

The world of junior hockey is often a volatile one, with players being shipped off to far-flung locales, and teams sometimes moving to different cities during the long off-season.

But a franchise shuttering their doors just a couple of weeks into a new campaign? That seems completely absurd doesn’t it?

That strange sounding scenario actually occurred in the SIJHL a couple of weeks ago, as the Sioux Lookout Flyers announced on Oct. 4 that they would be suspending operations for the remainder of the 2012/13 season.

In the press release that team posted on their website that day, the club said that “due to a series of unfortunate events our organization has found itself in a position in which it is unable to continue in a competitive and professional manner for the season.”

Prior to that incident occurring, the team hadn’t played a game since an 8-2 loss to the Thunder Bay North Stars on Sept. 25, with suspensions and injuries beings cited at the time as the reason for the cancellation of three games.

However, in an interview with the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal, former head coach and general manager Derek Levanen shed light on what was happening with the club before he resigned earlier in the week.

“We were getting there. We had six more guys from North Bay who were getting there,” he said to Reuben Villagracia.

The interview also noted that AHL defender Ryan Parent was helping to run the hockey operation and practices in town before Levanen was to move to Sioux Lookout, but he could not commit full-time. 

(For those interested the full article can be read here: http://www.chroniclejournal.com/content/news/local/2012/10/05/sioux-lookout-shuttered-2012-13-sijhl-season)

While there has been so many different things that have been said about what has happened to the Flyers, and the club has stated that they will come back next year, optically things don’t look that good.

This is a team that nearly bit the dust in the spring of 2011 due to financial issues, and I’m not fully convinced that the Flyers will be back in when the 2013/14 season begins.

And for a league that has seen many teams come and go over the last decade, it will be quite hard to try and bring something back when it disappears.

No clear-cut favourite in SIJHL yet

Although the league has dropped down to six teams for the remainder of the 2012/13 campaign, the level of play of the SIJHL so far this season has once again been quite entertaining.

Whether it be a high-scoring affair, a goaltending clinic, or an overtime thriller, there has been something for everyone as the first month of play draws to a close.

However, the one drawback in my opinion to all of this exciting play so far is that it’s getting quite hard to figure who will be the team to beat over the rest of the season in the race for the Bill Salonen Cup.

Other than the winless Duluth Clydesdales, the rest of the league is only separated by eight points heading into tomorrow’s game between the Minnesota Iron Rangers and the Fort Frances Lakers, which proves once again that parity is reigning supreme.

The aforementioned tilt between Iron Rangers and the Lakers at the Ice for Kids Arena tomorrow night is intriguing on a number of levels, especially since it’s the first time since both teams have matched wits since the Iron Rangers took a 3-2 win in Hoyt Lakes back in September.

That loss marked the beginning of a four game winless skid for the Lakers to start of the regular season, but since then, the local side has moved back into fourth place in the standings with a four game winning streak that came to an end on Monday in a 7-5 loss against the Dryden Ice Dogs.

Other than that high-scoring affair a couple of days ago, the Lakers defensive unit has shut down their opponents over the last set of games, with Tanner Hamilton turning in a number of sterling efforts between the pipes.

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the offence has been firing on all cylinders recently, with Fort Frances native Colton Spicer currently leading the team in scoring with 15 points in nine games.

The Iron Rangers, meanwhile, have easily shook away any remnants of their previous iteration as the Iron Range Ironheads with their level of play thus far with four wins to start off the season.

While a 4-5 record might not seem that impressive, keep in mind that it took the erstwhile Ironheads until December of last year to reach the four-win mark.

Having not seen the Iron Rangers in person yet, I’m very interested to see how they will look live here tomorrow night, as well as how well they will preform for the rest of the season.

At the top of the heap right now are the usual suspects, with the defending league champion Minnesota Wilderness currently leading the way with an 8-2 record, while the Thunder Bay North Stars and the Ice Dogs sit close behind.

As per usual, the Wilderness team is doing the same things that have made them the winners of the last two Bill Salonen Cup trophies, when they were then known as the Wisconsin Wilderness.

The forwards on the team are lighting the lamp for fun at this point, with the newly acquired Michael MacKinnon leading the SIJHL in scoring with 17 points, and netminders Gordy Defiel and JoJo Jeanetta frustrating the opposition with huge saves.

Thunder Bay might have made the most noise in the off-season to an extent with nobody knowing who the head coach was going to be until their home opener, when Kevin Kahoot was unveiled as the man behind the bench, but since then they have been letting their play do the talking.

Putting aside Saturday’s 8-3 drubbing handed out to the North Stars by the hands of the Lakers at the Ice for Kids Arena, the North Stars have been a very solid lineup this year, despite having a much younger lineup than they have had at their disposal in the past.

However, it’s been a pair of 20-year-olds that have been the leaders for the Lakehead squad at this point, with Matt Kaarela leading the team in scoring and former Sioux Lookout netminder Jayme Brattengeier standing tall at the other end of the rink.

But if I had to put my money down on a team that I think could make the most noise come playoff time at this very early stage, it might just be the Ice Dogs.

Granted, they may not have the firepower of a team like the North Stars or the Wilderness on paper, but the Ice Dogs do seem to have that gritty approach about them which is always a key when you get into a best-of-seven series.

The biggest thing for me is the fact there are a number of veteran players who are back with the Ice Dogs once again for another campaign, such as forward Jesse Linner and defenceman Len Pelletier.

There is nothing like experience at the junior hockey level, and that could be the biggest reason why the Ice Dogs might be representing the SIJHL at the Dudley Hewitt Cup in North Bay this April.

Granted, there is still a long way to go before we reach that part of the season, and anything can, and will, happen.

Big thanks to Lucas Punkari

CCHL This Week

By Jeff Maguire

The leaders in the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) are looking over their shoulders this week. That’s because the defending champion Nepean Raiders are charging up the standings!

Sunday Raiders fell 6-5 in a shootout to Cornwall Colts, who Nepean edged out in the maximum seven games in last spring’s CCHL championship series. But with at least one point from each of their last seven games the champions are now third overall in the league. Monday morning they were just a single point behind Yzerman Division leading Ottawa Junior Senators. Ottawa dropped only their second game in eight outings Sunday night, falling 2-1 to the previously slumping Lumber Kings in Pembroke.

Smiths Falls Bears continue to lead the CCHL and Robinson Division standings with 21 points, despite a 4-3 loss to Cumberland Grads in Navan Sunday afternoon.

Carleton Place Canadians sit second in the Robinson and fourth overall after beating Hawkesbury 5-2 Sunday to gain a split in their weekend home and home series with Hawks.

After an indifferent start which saw them drop four of their first eight games this season, Nepean is now among the hottest sides in the 12-team league. In their last seven outings Raiders have won four games in regulation and been beaten three times in shootouts.

Head coach and general manager Peter Goulet is confident his club, with 10 new faces in the line-up, is coming together.

“It’s how you finish (the season) and not how you start. But we have had a decent start and now we are taking things a game at a time,” Goulet said Monday morning.

“Overtime has helped us,” he admits, saying a point can be critical during the regular season.

“But there are no shootouts in the playoffs,” Goulet chuckled.

The biggest change in the Nepean line-up is on defence where there are five newcomers. But the veteran coach and GM is confident his backline is coming together, even at this early stage of the campaign. The statistics back him up!

“We let one get away yesterday (against Cornwall),” he noted. But Raiders have the lowest goals against total in the league (40) which the coach is pleased about.

As for the league itself Goulet is impressed by what he has seen to date.

“It’s good to see teams like Smiths Falls, Kanata and Gloucester playing so well. It’s great hockey – a really good brand.

“With no NHL at the moment we would obviously like to see more fans come out and watch our league, especially in Ottawa. They won’t be disappointed,” Goulet pledges.

Five of the 12 clubs in the CCHL are based in the nation’s capital!

It was a very busy week across the CCHL with 16 games played. On Sunday afternoon and evening all 12 teams saw action!

Hectic Sunday

Cornwall 7 – Nepean 6 (SO): Raiders suffered their first loss in four games falling to the Colts in a shootout at Nepean Sportsplex Sunday afternoon. But they have rung up 11 points in seven games and stood just a point behind the Yzerman leading Junior Senators Monday. There was offence aplenty in this one with Nepean outshooting the visitors 50-47 and 13 goals scored in regulation time. Centre Marly Quince paced the winners with four goals and an assist. Nepean winger Stephen Johnston’s second marker of the afternoon and fifth of the season, with 4:05 left in the third, forced overtime. Following a scoreless five minute, extra session each team sent three men to the line in the shootout. Cornwall outscored Nepean 2-1 to pick up the bonus point. Raiders led 2-0 after one and they extended their advantage to 3-0 in the second on Johnston’s powerplay strike. Colts roared back with four goals before the end of the middle stanza, two of which came during powerplays. The home team triggered two of three markers in the third. Quince’s four goals left him tied with league scoring leader Dalen Hedges for the CCHL goal lead with 13 each. Hedges had a goal and one assist Sunday giving him 27 points. Cornwall scoring leader Roman Ammirato scored once and set up three.

Carleton Place 5 – Hawkesbury 3: Playing at home Sunday afternoon Canadians earned a split of their weekend home and home with Hawkesbury to move within three points of Robinson Division leading Smiths Falls. A pair of third period goals by left winger Kevin Dufour sealed it for Carleton Place (9-5). Dufour, a 20-year-old from Beaufort, Quebec took over the team lead in scoring with 16 points including nine goals in 12 games. He also assisted on defenceman Larry Smith’s second period tally which turned out to be the game winner. Anthony McVeigh with an unassisted strike and Nick Erb staked Canadians to an early lead. Carl Faucher replied for the visitors late in the first and Shane Topf tied it just past the midway mark of period two. Defenceman Christian Weidauer set up a pair for the winners while left winger Brandon Bussey chipped in with a pair of assists for Hawks. Carleton Place outshot Hawkesbury 32-26 in the well-played game. Winning goalie Tony Kujava kicked out 24 shots to level his record at 2-2.

Cumberland 4 – Smiths Falls 3: League leaders Smiths Falls suffered their first setback in four games but remained at the top of the overall standings with an impressive 10-4-0-1 record and 21 points. Bears outshot Grads 43-31 at Navan Memorial Centre but couldn’t put enough pucks past Cumberland net minder Devan Tremblay who had another fine outing turning aside 40 shots. Former Grads’ goalie Patrick Martin started for Bears but was replaced by Jimmy Howe late in the first period after giving up three goals on 14 shots. Howe was the hard luck loser despite yielding just one goal in the third period. David Higgs staked the home team to an early lead and Matthew Morin and Mark Golberg each netted shorthanded as Cumberland led 3-0 after 20 minutes. Left winger Nolan Trombetta had the only second period goal for Smiths Falls. Eric Clitsome’s powerplay tally for Grads with six and a half minutes left proved to be decisive. Trombetta, with his second in four appearances, and Connor McLaren made it close with strikes less than a minute apart late in the third. Centre Colin Kruze set up a pair for the winners. Grads dodged a bullet in this one! They took 14 of the game’s 20 penalties. But Bears were a depressing 0-12 on the powerplay.

Brockville 4 – Gloucester 1: The improving Braves won their fifth game in six starts Sunday afternoon. Centre David Ferreira triggered a pair to give him the team goal scoring lead with eight. Brockville held a 33-23 shots advantage and they led 1-0 and 3-0 at the intervals. Zach Todd’s goal came with just one second remaining in the middle period while Erik Brown made it a 4-0 game early in period three. Stevie Ray Adams powerplay marker with 5:36 left ruined Cody Karpinski’s shutout bid. Adams now has 11 points including four goals in nine games since joining Rangers is a trade with Kemptville Sept. 24. Left winger Anthony Pino helped the Brockville cause with a pair of assists. Gianmarco De Meis suffered the net minding loss despite kicking out 29 shots.

Kanata 6 – Kemptville 1: Stallions gained a weekend split by sending the stumbling 73’s to their third straight loss in Kemptville Sunday night. Kanata (8-6-1-0) is a solid third in the Yzerman Division while the rebuilding 73’s are last in the league with a disappointing 4-9-0-2 mark to date. Winger Alex Stothart’s third goal of the weekend gave the visitors a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. Joe Breslin made it 2-0 in the second and Kanata banged in two more in the third to take charge of the contest. Kemptville captain Mason Nowak got his team on the board with his fourth of the season with 4:04 left. Brandon Petrie and Fabian Walsh with his second of the period scored just 28 seconds apart late in the game to put the icing on the cake for Kanata. Rookie Braeden Moffatt had the other third period strike for the visitors who outshot 73’s by a 25-20 margin. Fighting erupted with just seconds left on the clock. Breslin and Kemptville winger Stephen Cooney will miss their team’s next games as a result of the fracas. There had only been six minor penalties until tempers boiled over in the final minute of the contest.

Pembroke 2 – Ottawa 1: Lumber Kings got back on track by surprising Yzerman leaders Ottawa in the lowest scoring game of the weekend. It was only the second win for Pembroke in their past eight games while Junior Senators fell for just the second time in eight outings. The opening stanza was scoreless but in the second Kings’ left winger Liam Biard connected at the 3:37 mark. Then with just 51 seconds remaining in the period it was defenceman Philippe Drouin scoring his first of the campaign during a Pembroke powerplay.  Blueliner Joe Shecter’s third of the year at 7:43 of the final frame set up a tight finish. But Sens were unable to test winning goalie Darren Smith often enough. Ottawa was outshot 32-24 with former Pembroke net minder Charlie Millen suffering the loss despite making 30 stops. Left winger Ben Dalpe took over the Pembroke scoring lead with two assists. Dalpe has 16 points including 10 helpers in 15 appearances. A good crowd of more than 700 took in the action at Pembroke Memorial Centre.

Raiders rampant

Nepean 7 – Kemptville 2: The rampaging Raiders won their third game of the week Friday night as the defending CCHL champions continue to climb the ladder of success. The score wasn’t reflective of the play with the clubs finishing tied in shots at 28 apiece. For the second straight game Ryan Mulder was hot in the Nepean cage kicking out 26 shots for his third win in as many starts. Veteran centre Dalen Hedges did the rest! He had a five-point night including a natural hat trick in the second period to take over the league lead in scoring with 25 points including 12 goals in 13 games. His tallies all came during powerplays and they were scored during a five-minute span starting at 13:37 of the middle period. Hedges’ flurry of goals broke the contest wide open! Raiders outscored the home team 3-2 in a hectic and penalty-filled third period. One player from each side was ejected for fighting in the final five minutes. Nepean led the penalty parade but Kemptville was only one for seven with the man advantage. Raiders were a far more efficient four for seven. Rookie forward Wyatt Coghill scored twice for the winners, his opening strikes of the campaign. Left winger Kenneth Neil scored once and set up two. Hard working winger Lucas Gonu had a goal and one assist for 73’s.

Smiths Falls 5 – Pembroke 3: Bears continue to be a surprise team in the early going. After just making the playoffs last spring and then falling in four straight games to Nepean in the quarter finals, Smiths Falls has charged out of the gate this season. Friday they took the overall lead in the CCHL by disposing of perennial champions Pembroke in front of more than 600 at the new Memorial Centre in the Rideau Canal town. Three unanswered goals in the third period, two of them by high flying Connor McLaren, erased a 3-2 Lumber Kings’ lead and propelled Bears (10-3-0-1) to the top of the league. McLaren’s goals, the second of which went into the empty Pembroke cage with three seconds remaining, left him tied for 10th in league scoring with 17 points. Centre Karson McCartney of Perth broke out of a season-long slump with a pair of goals. His second, early in period three, was the game winner. Forward Chris Maniccia stayed tied for the overall points lead in the league by scoring his 11th of the season in the second period. Bears outshot Lumber Kings 42-31 with Jimmy Howe the winning net minder. Centre Owen McDade led the visitors’ offence with a goal and one helper.

Hawkesbury 4 – Carleton Place 1: A recent nemesis returned to haunt Canadians Friday. In their first meeting of the season Hawks, the last place team in the Robinson Division, defeated the second place Carleton Place club. It was their first meeting of this season. Last March Hawkesbury famously swept the fourth place Canadians out of the opening round of the playoffs. Once again it was Hawks’ goalie Carmine Guerriero who spoiled the night for the visitors! He was nothing short of spectacular making 56 saves as the visitors outshot Hawkesbury 57-31 and held a wide edge in territorial play. Guerriero’s heroics gave Hawkesbury their fourth consecutive Friday night win on home ice and lifted them into a points tie with slumping Kemptville at the foot of the division. The opening period was scoreless despite the fact Carleton Place poured 17 shots at Guerriero. Three goals in a span of less than 12 minutes in the middle stanza sealed the win for Hawkesbury. The fourth Hawks’ goal was scored by Francis Landers into the empty Carleton Place cage with five seconds left in the third. Carl Faucher, Pietro Antonelli and Shane Topf had the second period strikes. Defenceman Holden Anderson assisted on all three! Canadians’ scoring leader Luke Edwards broke up Guerriero’s shutout bid with his fourth goal at 8:12 of the final frame.

Brockville 7 – Cumberland 1: The slumping Grads fell to the Yzerman Division basement when they were bested by the Braves in Brockville Friday night. Captain Chris Roll led the home team with two goals and as assist as Brockville improved to 6-5-0-1 and moved closer to the leaders in the Robinson standings. Matthew Jenkins was solid between the pipes for Braves making 24 stops in what was a close game everywhere but on the scoreboard. Cumberland starter Devan Tremblay had a tough night. He was lifted at 13:23 of the second after Roll’s first goal made it 4-1 Brockville. Tremblay yielded four goals on just 15 shots to suffer his fifth loss in nine decisions. Reilly Turner went the rest of the way giving up three more Braves’ markers. Brockville native Nathan Todd had a goal and two helpers while team scoring leader Ben Blasko moved to 20 points on the campaign with his seventh goal and one assist. Cory Wilson and Taylor Henry also had one tally and an assist for the winners who outshot Cumberland 27-25. Eric Clitsome’s powerplay strike with 35 seconds remaining in the opening frame turned out to be the only Grads’ scoring play.

Gloucester 4 – Kanata 2: The improving Rangers sent Stallions to their second loss of the week, doubling the visitors in front of just over 200 fans at Earl Armstrong Arena in Orleans Friday. Two goals late in the third period broke a 2-2 tie, propelling Gloucester to their third triumph in four starts. Rangers moved within two points of third place Kanata in the tight Yzerman Division. Recently acquired forward Matt Rosebrook continues to light it up for Rangers! He had a goal and an assist to help the offence, giving him a remarkable 13 points including nine goals since his trade from Kemptville in late September. Rosebrook was tied for 10th in CCHL scoring following play Friday. Christian Leger also had a goal and a helper for the winners while Kyle Leduc and Keegan Rowe had the others for Gloucester. Right winger Alex Stothart connected twice for Stallions including a powerplay marker early in the third period that briefly tied the contest 2-2. Leduc and Rosebrook, with tallies just over two minutes apart late in regulation, won it for the home side. Gloucester outshot Kanata 42-36 with Gunner Rivers making 34 stops to even his record at 4-4. Rookie net minder Brayden St-Germain fell to 1-2 despite turning aside 38 shots in Stallions’ cage.

Last week’s games

Cornwall 5 – Kemptville 1: Colts moved within a point of second place in the Robinson Division with a comprehensive victory over league strugglers Kemptville Thursday at Ed Lumley Arena. The triumph boosted Colts, finalists the past two seasons in the CCHL, just over the .500 mark on the campaign. But after Thursday’s action they joined Gloucester with the most games played to date – 14. This one was all Cornwall! They outshot 73’s by a big 42-26 margin and led 5-0 before Kemptville’s Lucas Gonu ruined Jordan Piccolino’s shutout bid at 8:18 of the third period. Tanner Spink had a goal and an assist to pace the winners who also got single tallies from Michael Pontarelli, Lawson MacDonald, dependable Trent Durocher and Alexandre Gendron during a third period powerplay. Billy Cooper made 37 stops in a losing cause for Kemptville who fell to 4-7-0-2. Just less than 700 fans took in the action at Cornwall. Colts have the highest attendance in the CCHL so far this season after seven home games.

Nepean 6 – Pembroke 1: Raiders’ resurgence continued Wednesday and for a second consecutive night it was goaltending that played a huge part in the win. Matt Zawadzki kicked out 47 shots as Nepean improved to 7-3-0-2 and moved into second place in the highly competitive Yzerman Division. Pembroke held a commanding 48-35 lead in shots. But the only Kings’ player to find a way past Zawadzki was team scoring leader Stephen Hrehoriak in the second period. Otherwise the veteran goalie was unbeatable! He turned aside an amazing 23 shots in the middle stanza alone as Pembroke held a wide territorial advantage, outshooting the home team 24-12 in the period. Nepean defenceman Derek Diaz opened scoring late in the first and right winger Brent Norris netted what turned out to be the game winner during a powerplay midway through the second period. Brandon Watt made it 3-1 with 2:16 left in the second and just 53 seconds into the final frame Norris triggered his second of the night and ninth of the season as Raiders took command on the scoreboard. Dalen Hedges added a powerplay goal and blueliner Andrew DeBrincat, with his second goal in as many nights, rounded out scoring with just 2:49 left on the clock. Zawadzki was a deserving first star!

Ottawa 5 – Cornwall 4 (OT): Senators impressive start to the campaign continued on home ice Wednesday with a spectacular come-from-behind victory. Red-hot Ottawa won their eighth in nine starts to stay atop the overall CCHL standings. Greg Jansz sixth goal of the season at 1:01 of overtime sealed two more points for the rampant Junior Sens. Ottawa trailed 2-0 after one period and Colts upped the count to 4-0 with two goals in just over two minutes early in period two. But before the stanza was over the confident Sens responded with two of their own. Then just 45 seconds into the final regulation period it was veteran forward Ben Robillard making it a one goal game. Four minutes later forward Luc Deschamps came up with an unassisted effort to tie it. Jansz’s OT winner was his fourth marker in five games. Robillard and Ryan Collins led the way with a goal and two assists each while Joe Shecter had a second period goal for Sens. Cornwall got two powerplay goals and one assist from defenceman Stephen Johnson. Michael Pontarelli also counted during a powerplay and Trent Durocher netted his fifth for Cornwall. Alex Savard-Belanger was the winning goalie in relief of starter Charlie Millen who allowed all four Cornwall goals in 30 minutes of work.   

Smiths Falls 4 – Hawkesbury 2: The surprising Bears regained the overall points lead in the CCHL Tuesday by winning their ninth game in 12 outings, this time at the expense of league cellar dwellers Hawkesbury. Hawks have played much better recently and they outshot the home team 33-25. But despite taking a 2-1 lead into the second period Hawkesbury couldn’t hold it. Smiths Falls rebounded with a pair of powerplay markers in the middle stanza. They added insurance midway through the third when red-hot centre Chris Maniccia triggered his 12th goal of the season, giving him a league leading 23 points in 13 appearances. Veteran Jeffrey Carroll staked Bears to an early lead in the opening stanza while Connor McLaren and high scoring blueliner Tyler Akeson netted the second period powerplay markers. It was Akeson’s first goal, but he also has 15 assists. Yanik Laliberte, during a man advantage situation and Stefano Momesso had the first period goals for Hawks. Jimmy Howe made 31 saves for his third win of the season against one setback. Brock Crossthwaite suffered his third loss in as many starts in the Hawkesbury cage. 

Nepean 5 – Kanata 0: Back-up goalie Ryan Mulder made 39 saves as Raiders got back on track, blanking Stallions in Kanata Tuesday. Mulder, 19, of Ottawa won his second game in as many appearances. He was a worthy first star selection! Winger Cameron Yarwood’s third goal, just 10 seconds after the opening face-off, proved to be the winner. Nepean got second period strikes from defenceman Andrew DeBrincat, Keenan Hodgson, Phillip Nasca and Dalen Hedges. Veteran right winger Nasca was playing his first game since moving from Stallions to Raiders last month. Nepean scoring leader Hedges also assisted twice giving him 19 points on the campaign. Brett Norris and Kenneth Neil also set up two apiece. The third period was scoreless. Kanata was a woeful 0-9 on the powerplay which contributed to their demise. Brandon Lane started in goal but was replaced by back-up Brayden St-Germain after the fifth Nepean goal at 12:57 of the second. Raiders out chanced Stallions 44-39. 

A rare Tuesday night tripleheader opens the busiest week so far this season in the CCHL. A total of 18 games are scheduled from Tuesday through Sunday. Friday night all 12 teams will see action for only the third time in the new campaign!

Jeff Maguire is a career journalist based in Carleton Place. He has covered junior hockey in Ontario for 41 years. Jeff’s report will appear on the CCHL website every Monday throughout the season. He can be reached by e-mail at: jeffrey.maguire@rogers.com

NOJHL This Week

NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE

Release Date: Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012

NOJHL NOTEBOOK: T-Birds rookie Horodziejczyk impressive early in Jr. A career 

SUDBURY -- With big pads to fill Joel Horodziejczyk is off to an impressive start for the Soo Thunderbirds.

The T-Birds rookie netminder is one of two goalies new to the club this season looking to follow up on the success of John Kleinhans who backstopped Sault Ste. Marie to Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and Dudley-Hewitt Cup championships last season as well  as top goaltender and most valuable player accolades at the Royal Bank Cup.

Five games into his Jr. A career the 17-year-old Horodziejczyk has yet to taste defeat posting an unblemished 5-0 record.

He tops tops all NOJHL netminders in both goals-against average and save percentage at 1.56 and .390 respectively.

Horodziejczyk’s numbers stack up right across the Canadian Junior Hockey League posting the fourth best average among all the squads that comprise Jr. A hockey in the country.

His unbeaten and untied record also leaves tied for fourth nationally in the most victories department.

CJHL goals-against average leaders. (As of Oct. 10)
Goaltender              Team              League Record AVG.
Shayne Campbell     Truro               MHL      5-0        0.99
Tyler Briggs              West Kelowna BCHL   4-3         1.38
Kale Thomson          Yorkton           SJHL      3-1        1.43
Joel Horodziejczyk Soo                 NOJHL 5-0         1.56
Daniel Mannella        Georgetown    OJHL     5-2-1     1.72
Devin McDonald       Camrose         AJHL      3-1-1     1.85  

CJHL unbeaten/untied win leaders
Goaltender  Team    League Record  
Chad Katunar  Penticton   BCHL  8-0
Michael Fredrick Brooks    AJHL  8-0
Joseph Pianta  Toronto Lakeshore OJHL  6-0
Joel Horodziejczyk Soo    NOJHL  5-0
Devin Buffalo  Flin Flon   SJHL  5-0
Justin McDonald  OCN    MJHL  5-0
Shayne Campbell  Truro    MHL  5-0

WEEK 5: An eight-game week in the NOJHL kicks off this evening with first place implications as Sudbury hosts the North Bay Trappers in a 7:30 p.m. start at McClelland Arena in Copper Cliff.

The Trappers enter the contest trailing the Nickel Barons by two points in the league standings with Sudbury and the Soo Thunderbirds sitting at 16 points apiece with North Bay at 14.

A trio of 7:30 p.m. tilts go Friday with Kirkland Lake hosting Abitibi, Blind River heading to Sault Ste. Marie to meet the Thunderbirds at John Rhodes while North Bay pays a visit to Elliot Lake.

Saturday’s action features Elliot Lake at the Soo, who return to Essar Centre, the Gold Miners on the road to the Eskimos and the Trappers travelling to Blind River.

Weekly action concludes Sunday with another key match-up as the T-Birds welcoming North Bay to Essar Centre for a 3 p.m. matinee.

NOJHL THREE STARS: Sault Ste. Marie and Elliot Lake were among a handful of teams that chalked up key victories in league play last week. It’s no surprise that players from both the Thunderbirds and Bobcats are among those featured in the latest presentation of the NOJHL Three Stars of the Week.

JOSH BORGEN – SOO THUNDERBIRDS: It didn’t take long for newcomer Josh Borgen to make an impression in the NOJHL.

In his first two games with the Thunderbirds last week, the 19 year old native of l’Anse, Mich., racked up seven points, helping lead the Soo to wins over Elliot Lake and Abitibi.

With the team battling for first place in the NOJHL, the defending league champions from Sault Ste. Marie are looking to add even more offensive balance to a lineup that features a solid 1-2 punch in Darcy Casola and Adam Ritchie. Based on the early returns, Borgen fits the bill quite nicely.

ZACH INNES – ABITIBI ESKIMOS: The only non-rookie in the “Stars of the Week”, Zach Innes celebrated his birthday in style.

Turning 19 yesterday, the Moosonee native enjoyed a five-point week as the Eskies salvaged one win of the western three-game road swing.

Currently teamed with linemates Richard Therrien and Peter Poulin-Roy, Innes sits second in Abitibi scoring at the moment, registering eight points in his first nine games as the Eskimos continue to hunt for a winning formula with the winter fast approaching.

DUSTIN CORDEIRO – ELLIOT LAKE BOBCATS: After getting their feet wet with NOJHL action in early September, the Elliot Lake Bobcats are starting to settle in nicely, picking up victories over North Bay and Blind River last week.

Speedy forward Dustin Cordeiro hit the scoresheet in all three games, finishing the week with a pair of goals and an equal number of assists.

Having turned 17 in the spring, the Kitchener native is one of a handful of impressive young building blocks that Ryan Leonard hopes will pay dividends in the second half of the 2012-13 season.

CJHL TOP 20: The latest Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings see two Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League clubs on the list.

Maintaining their place in the top 10 are the Sudbury Nickel Barons who were slotted in the No. 8 slot this week.

Meanwhile the defending NOJHL and Dudley-Hewitt Cup champion Soo Thunderbirds, who are currently tied for top spot in the league standings with Sudbury at 16 points apiece, garnered honourable mention laurels.

The CJHL Top 20 is formulated in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting and is based upon a variety of factors, including the league in which the teams belong to as well as regular season results.

Back at No. 1 for a second consecutive week are the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League followed by the defending Royal Bank Cup champion Penticton Vees of the BCHL in second and the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers in third.

The following are the CJHL Top 20 as of Oct. 8, 2012, with the league they are members of listed in brackets.

1. Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
2. Penticton Vees (BCHL)
3. Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL)
4. Truro Bearcats (MHL)
5. Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL) 
6. OCN Blizzard (MJHL)
7. Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL)
8. Sudbury Nickel Barons (NOJHL)
9. Winnipeg Blues (MJHL)
10. Minnesota Wilderness (SIJHL)
11. Coquitlam Express (BCHL)
12. Ottawa Jr. Senators (CCHL)
13. Oakville Blades (OJHL)
14. St. Michael’s Buzzers (OJHL)
15. Dryden Ice Dogs (SIJHL)
16. Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners (MHL)
17. Saint Jerome Pantheres (LHJAAAQ)
18. Smiths Falls Bears (CCHL)
19. Georgetown Raiders (OJHL)
20. Yorkton Terriers (SJHL)

Honourable Mention: Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL), Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL), Whitecourt Wolverines (AJHL), Portage Terriers (MJHL), Summerside Western Capitals (MHL).

The CJHL is an amalgamation of 10 Junior A hockey leagues from across Canada. More information on the CJHL can be found by clicking on the league website www.cjhlhockey.com.

2013 DUDLEY-HEWITT CUP: The North Bay Trappers will serve as the host team for the 2013 Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canada Jr. A championship tournament.

The five-day event will be held at North Bay Memorial Gardens April 30 through May 4. It will feature the Trappers along with the champions of the NOJHL, Ontario Junior Hockey League and Superior International Junior Hockey League taking part.

Should North Bay go on to capture the NOJHL championship, then the league finalist will round out the four-team field with a berth to the Royal Bank Cup national Jr. A championship in Summerside, P.E.I. in May on the line.

TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTEBOOK

ABITIBI ESKIMOS – The Eskimos will look to use the advantage of home ice to make a jump in the NOJHL standings in the next month or so as they are the home team in nine of their next 12 outings… Riding a five-game point streak Richard Therrien has maintained his team scoring lead. 12 of his team-high 13 points have come during his streak as he has moved into sixth overall in league offensive production. … Therrien’s nine tallies are the second most in the NOJHL. … Zach Innes who has a modest two-game point streak on the go in next on the squad with eight points.

BLIND RIVER BEAVERS – A tough test for the Beavers this week as they try and snap a mini two-game winning streak with games vs. Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay. … Paul Muio is averaging a point-per-game so far this season with nine in as many outings and holds the club scoring lead. His totals have him tied for 10th in league scoring … 10 games into the season Blind River sports a 2-7-1 record. …Nine of the squad’s next 13 games will be contested on the road.

ELLIOT LAKE BOBCATS – The first-year Bobcats have won two of their last three games and have moved into fifth spot in the NOJHL standings … Daniel Carter, 20-year-old forward from Burlington, Ont., holds the team scoring lead with eight points. … Dustin Cordeiro has a three-game point streak on the go. … Elliot Lake has allowed the most goals in the league overall so far this season at 53. … When scoring first in a game the Bobcats are 2-0, but 1-7 when the opposition strikes first.

KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD MINERS – A two-game home-and-home set vs. Abitibi is in store for the Gold Miners Friday and Saturday. …Under first-year head coach Marc Lafleur Kirkland Lake sits in fourth place at the 10-game mark in the standings at 5-4-1. … They are 3-1-1 in their past five games. … Connor McNally holds the team lead in offensive production with 10 points and sits ninth in league scoring. … Steven Babin shares 10th spot in the league with nine points. … Both Babin and McNally are tied for third in goals scored with eight each. The club is third in the league for fewest goals allowed at 29. … Chris Komma is third in NOJHL goals-against average at .2.36.

NORTH BAY TRAPPERS – The Trappers will look to get back into the column tonight as they visit Sudbury. … North Bay has allowed the fewest amount of goals in the NOJHL so far at 20. … Goalkeeper Greg Dodds remains reason for the stingy defensive play. The 20-year-old netminder posting a solid 6-1-1-1 record. … Dodds sits second in both goals-against average at 2.02 and save percentage at .929. … Brandon Janke has points in all nine games the Trappers have played so far this season. His 15 points lead the team and also has him fourth in league scoring. Corbin Bean, who has five multiple-point games already this season, is next on the squad and tied for seventh in NOJHL scoring with 12 points.

SOO THUNDERBIRDS – The Thunderbirds look to extend their four-game winning streak with home games against Blind River, Elliot Lake and North Bay. … Their recent success earned them Honourable Mention in the latest CJHL rankings. … The Soo is tied with Sudbury for first place with 16 points. … Rookie netminder Joel Horodziejczyk continues to pace all NOJHL puck stoppers in both goals-against average and save percentage at 1.56 and .930 respectively. … He sits fourth in the entire CJHL in GAA. … Adam Ritchie maintains the team point lead with 16. He is fifth in the league in offensive production. … Darcy Casola has moved in second spot on the squad in points with 14. He is riding a four-game goal and point streak. … The Soo plays their next eight games at home.

SUDBURY NICKEL BARONS – The No. 8 CJHL-ranked Nickel Barons look to get back in the win column tonight vs. North Bay. They have dropped two straight and starting the season 8-0. … Averaging five goals-per-game the Nickel Barons pace the NOJHL in goals scored with 50. … Sudbury features the NOJHL’s top two point producers. 18-year-old forward Darcy Haines leads the way with 24 points, including a league-best 12 goals. He has points in all 10 games to date and has scored in all but two contests. … Sebastien Leroux is second in league scoring with 20 points. He too has recorded points in all nine games he has played to date. … Goaltenders Michael Muzyka and Alex Laino are both 4-1 to start the season. Muzyka is fourth in goals-against average at 2.73 while Laino is fifth at 3.10. …They are also second and sixth respectively in save percentage at .913 and .908. … Sudbury plays their next three games at home.

CCHL This Week

By: Jeff Maguire

Paul Jennings feels his team is coming into its own and in the highly energized atmosphere of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) that is a good thing!

Jennings, the general manager of Gloucester Rangers, has watched his club recover from a slow start to the campaign and move into the thick of the early season race in the intensely competitive Yzerman Division of the CCHL.

Despite a 5-3 loss to the league leading Ottawa Junior Senators on Thanksgiving (Monday) afternoon Rangers are 4-3 in their last seven games and have earned nine of a possible 14 points during that stretch.

A busy early season schedule has seen them play 14 games to date, two more than any other team in the 12-team league.

Despite the holiday setback sixth place Gloucester sits just one point behind defending CCHL champion Nepean Raiders and Cumberland Grads in the Yzerman Division standings. Raiders however have four games in hand and Grads three. So Gloucester will have to continue to play well to be competitive.

Ottawa leads the division with 18 points, Kanata Stallions is second with 15 and Pembroke Lumber Kings are third with 14 points.

Sunday afternoon in Navan, the visiting Rangers defeated Cumberland 5-4 in overtime in an important contest. The winning goal was scored by recently acquired forward Matt Rosebrook with just 18 seconds left in the mandatory five-minute period.

Gloucester overturned a three goal deficit with three unanswered strikes in the third period to force the extra session. Rosebrook then scored his sixth goal in as many games since joining Rangers in a four player swap with league rival Kemptville 73’s in late September.

“I think we have turned the corner,” says Rangers’ GM Jennings whose team finished at the bottom of the league and out of the playoff mix last season.

After a decent post season run in the spring of 2011, last season was a rebuilding year for Gloucester who lost several top-flight, veteran players to graduation following the 2010-2011 campaign.

This season Jennings sees very little rebuilding happening across the CCHL!

“The whole league is really competitive this year. Everybody wants to be in the playoffs,” the veteran junior hockey team owner and GM says.

“You have to show up every night in this league. Everybody can beat anybody on a given night – it’s been happening all season so far. The standings are tight from top to bottom.”

Even though he had to give up two good players in the Sept. 24 trade with Kemptville, the Gloucester manager is pleased with the results to date.

Good additions

Rosebrook, a 19-year-old left winger from Carp has now scored eight goals and 11 points in just seven games for his new club. He triggered a pair of powerplay goals in the third period of this afternoon’s home ice loss to red-hot Ottawa. Gloucester trailed 4-1 heading into the final frame but made a game of it with a strong third period effort.

Rangers’ forward Stevie Ray Vaughan, 19, of Akwasasne, Quebec had one assist in the holiday afternoon clash. He has rung up 10 points including seven assists since the trade from Kemptville to Gloucester.

“It was a good trade for both teams,” Jennings says. “We gave up two guys we liked. Brad (Vaughn) is a veteran defenceman and Brett (Varrin) is an excellent forward. So we gave up a lot.”

Varrin scored 47 points while playing all 62 games for Gloucester last season. Vaughn, a defensive blueliner, returns to 73’s where he began his CCHL career in 2009-2010. He played 102 games for Rangers during two seasons in Orleans.

To date Varrin has contributed four goals and three assists in just five appearances for the improving Kemptville team who play in the Robinson Division.

Jennings however is more than happy with the contributions of Rosebrook and Adams.

“We needed a bit more offence and so far they have provided it.”

As mentioned, Gloucester has played the most games of any team in the league and will have to play well to stay with the pack in the Yzerman.

“The schedule is front loaded for us this season.

“We play at home on Thanksgiving because of the crunch for ice in the city of Ottawa. The holiday is a good day for us and we attract quite a few families to watch our games on Thanksgiving,” Jennings notes.

With the majority of the long (62 game) season remaining, Rangers’ GM is hopeful his team will be one of eight playoff entries when the regular campaign wraps up in March.

“It’s a long season but like everyone else we are aiming for a playoff place.”

Sens hot  

In the Thanksgiving afternoon game at Earl Armstrong Arena the front running Junior Senators won their seventh game in eight starts. Ottawa (9-3) has accumulated 18 points to take the overall points lead in the CCHL, one ahead of Smiths Falls and two up on Carleton Place. Bears and Canadians are 1-2 in the Robinson Division race.

After building a 4-0 lead it appeared Junior Sens would cakewalk against the hometown Rangers. But Gloucester scored three of the last five goals to make a game of it! Rangers held a 30-29 edge in shots but were frustrated by Alexandre Savard-Belanger who made 27 saves for his fourth win against two setbacks.

Left winger Greg Jansz had a goal and two assists for Ottawa who led 1-0 after 20 minutes and jumped out to a four goal advantage by putting three pucks past Gianmarco De Meis in the Gloucester cage in a span of less than five minutes in period two.

Highly rated rookie Hunter Racine opened scoring with his fifth goal while Owen Werthner, Luc Deschamps and Bruno Cheff had the second period tallies for Ottawa.

Andrew Rossy got Rangers on the board with just 21 seconds remaining in the middle period. Rosebrook struck twice in the third for the home team but Jansz powerplay goal at 13:52 was all the insurance Sens would need.

Both teams had a pair of powerplay markers. But Gloucester misfired on seven man advantage chances and that proved costly.

It was another hectic week in the CCHL with 15 games played from Tuesday through Monday afternoon.

Busy Sunday

Ottawa 4 – Hawkesbury 3 (SO): The surprising Junior Senators squeezed past Hawks in a shootout in Hawkesbury Sunday night. It was third shootout win in the past seven games, six of which were Ottawa victories. Despite out shooting struggling Hawkesbury 54-45, Senators needed two third period goals to force overtime. Defenceman Joe Shecter on a powerplay and centre Ryan Collins with his fifth of the season got the visitors back on even terms. Winger Michael Evelyn, on a set-up from Collins, had the other regulation time goal for Ottawa in period two. Hawkesbury led 3-1 after 40 minutes with Yanik Laliberte counting in the first period while Brandon Bussey and Anthony Guaiani fired second period goals. Francis Landers and Carl Faucher each assisted twice for Hawks. In the shootout both teams sent six players to the line. Ottawa outscored Hawkesbury 2-1 to earn the bonus point. A first period tussle saw 11 penalties called including fighting majors and game misconducts to Senators’ Luc Deschamps and Derek Brown and Hawks’ Jesse Turrin and Ross Kovacs.

Kanata 4 – Cornwall 2: Three unanswered goals in the final frame allowed Kanata to overcome an early 2-0 deficit and double the listless Colts who have dropped five of their past seven encounters. Kanata meanwhile has won four of their last seven. Monday they stood second in the tight Yzerman standings. Sunday’s encounter at Ed Lumley Arena in Cornwall was an entertaining one with the teams sticking to hockey. There were just half a dozen minor penalties called, three to each team in a game which took only an hour and 57 minutes to play! The first period was scoreless but in the middle stanza Colts grabbed a 2-0 lead on goals by centre Nicholas Santoro and left winger Alexandre Gendron, his third in as many games. With 1:44 left in the period Stallions’ scoring leader Derian Plouffe made it close with his sixth of the campaign. In the third the visitors took charge. Devin Fullam tied it at the 3:27 mark and just over seven minutes Joe Breslin connected for the game winner. Plouffe’s second of the night went into the empty Cornwall cage with one tick left on the clock. Brandon Lane made 27 saves for the goaltending win while James Edwardson absorbed the loss, his first in three starts.     

Carleton Place 3 – Pembroke 2: Sunday night Canadians earned a split of their home and home series with Lumber Kings although each won on the other’s ice. The victory left Carleton Place (8-4) with 16 points, one fewer than Robinson Division leaders Smiths Falls who were idle Sunday. Pembroke led 2-1 after 20 minutes and the middle stanza was scoreless. The visitors tied it when talented left winger Kevin Dufour triggered his seventh of the season during a powerplay at 12:28 of the third period. Just two minutes, 28 seconds later it was winger Nick Erb firing the game winner, his first of the campaign. Dufour set up the game’s opening score by Brock Edwards early in the opening stanza. Pembroke replied with strikes by veteran Stephen Hrehoriak, his seventh and defenceman Philippe Drouin, his first, just a minute and a half apart to give the home team a temporary advantage. Hard working defenceman Michael Maciag had two assists for Carleton Place. Canadians outshot the home team 34-24 with Tony Kujava evening his record at 1-1 with the goaltending victory. Darren Smith made 31 saves but saw his record fall to 3-3 after six starts.

Kemptville 5 – Brockville 2: The 73’s are in the thick of the Robinson race after a solid home ice win over visiting Brockville Sunday night. Billy Cooper made 25 saves for the goaltending triumph and recent addition Brett Varrin continued his scoring run for Kemptville with two goals. Varrin, a 20-year-old right winger acquired in the four player swap involving Kemptville and Gloucester in late September, has four markers and seven points in five appearances for 73’s. The home team led 3-1 after 20 minutes and after Brockville moved close with the only goal of the middle stanza 73’s took charge, netting the only goals of the final frame. Right winger Kevin Valenti with his first, veteran defenceman Jesse Lussier with his second and winger Zach Lindsay with No. 2 on the campaign had the other goals for the winners. Lussier, Lindsay and Kemptville scoring leader Blaine Byron all had two point games. Braves’ ace Ben Blasko and team captain Chris Roll, during a second period powerplay, replied for Brockville who had a modest three game winning streak snapped. The win moved 73’s within one point of Braves in the Robinson standings.

Gloucester 5 – Cumberland 4 (OT): Two teams who are battling to join the leaders in the highly competitive Yzerman Division faced off in Navan Sunday afternoon. Rangers’ recent acquisition Matt Rosebrook connected for his sixth goal in as many games with just 18 seconds left in OT to give visiting Gloucester (5-7-0-1) the bonus point in a hard fought, comeback triumph. Rosebrook also set up a pair of markers while Stevie Ray Adams, who was also dealt to Rangers from Kemptville in the four player trade, scored his third goal and set up another. Adams moved to nine points since his arrival in Orleans in late September, the same total as Rosebrook. Grads (4-3-3-1) led 1-0 after 20 minutes and then outscored the visitors 3-1 in the second. They appeared to be headed for an important win. Gloucester turned the tables with three third period strikes including centre Christian Leger’s powerplay tally with 4:37 left in regulation that forced OT. Centres Keegan Rowe in the second period and Patrick White, early in period two, each connected for their third goals of the campaign for the winners. Veteran forward Eric Clitsome struck twice for Cumberland while Nick Martin and Travis Douglas had second period markers. Grads out shot Rangers 39-31 but were held at bay by Gunner Rivers who made 35 saves for his third win in seven decisions. The result left Gloucester just a point behind Cumberland and Nepean in the division. But Raiders held a big three games in hand and Cumberland two.   

Friday games

Smiths Falls 4 – Kemptville 3: A genuine hat trick in the third period by centre Chris Maniccia gave the first place Bears a deserved win over 73’s Friday in front of nearly 600 fans at Smiths Falls Memorial Centre. Maniccia triggered twice in 11 seconds in the last minute of regulation time. The tying goal came on a powerplay while Kemptville was a man short due to a minor penalty. The winner was an even strength strike with 37 seconds remaining.  Bears’ big line of Maniccia and wingers Michael Buonincontri and Yannick Crete continues to light it up! The trio combined for nine points with Buonincontri netting his team’s opening goal late in the second period after Kemptville had taken an improbable 3-0 lead. Veteran goalie Dylan BrindAmour made 41 saves to keep 73’s in the contest. Bears out chanced their opponents 45-24 including a 17-6 margin in the second period. The end result saw Buonincontri and Maniccia tied atop the CCHL scoring chart with 23 points apiece while Crete was deadlocked with Gloucester sniper Alexandre Boivin for second with 18 each. Stephen Cooney and Blaine Byron gave the visitors a 2-0 first period advantage with Luca Gonu making it 3-0 in the middle stanza. Byron also assisted twice for a three-point night. Bears topped the overall standings by three points at the end of play Friday!

Pembroke 4 – Carleton Place 2: Lumber Kings prevented Canadians from keeping pace with Robinson Division leading Smiths Falls, doubling the second place side in front of more than 350 Carleton Place faithful Friday. Pembroke went into the contest on a three game losing skid. It might have gone to four had it not been for the work of Kings’ net minder Darren Smith! He made 33 stops as Canadians held a 35-25 shots advantage. Smith was especially hot in the final frame when the hosts out shot Pembroke 13-8. It was Lumber Kings who scored the only goals of the final frame with veteran Stephen Hrehoriak firing the winner at 1:16. Less than six minutes later left winger Ryan Hunter scored his first of the campaign to give the visitors some insurance. Owen McDade and Ryan Erickson gave Kings an early 2-0 lead before Canadians’ centre Evan Peterson connected on a powerplay with 1:33 left in the first. The home team tied it during another man advantage situation with defenceman Larry Smith depositing his first of the season behind his Pembroke namesake. Carleton Place’s Tony Kujava started his first game in goal after finally shaking off a pre-season thigh injury. He made 21 stops in a losing cause.

Hawkesbury 2 – Nepean 1 (SO): The low flying Hawks surprised defending champions Nepean, recording just their third win of the campaign in the process. It was the second consecutive Friday night added time win for Hawkesbury on home ice and by the identical score. Raiders (5-3-0-1) remained fourth in the Yzerman standings while Hawks continued to trail the league despite the victory. It was a very evenly played game with Nepean holding a 45-44 shots advantage. Both regulation time goals came during powerplays. Veteran forward Brent Norris gave the visitors an early advantage in the first period with Shane Topf tying it late in the second. The third period and overtime were scoreless. In the shootout phase Hawks sent two players to the line with Stefano Momesso connecting. All three Nepean shooters came up empty. Winning goalie Carmine Guerriero and Nepean’s Matt Zawadzki were both kept busy. Raiders were an inefficient 1-7 on the powerplay.

Brockville 3 – Ottawa 2: Junior Senators five game winning streak was halted in Brockville Friday night. The contest appeared headed to overtime until Braves’ ace David Ferreira connected for his team leading sixth goal with only 48 seconds left. Ferreira’s dramatic winner came while Ottawa blueliner Owen Werthner was sitting out a hooking penalty. Brockville scoring leader Ben Blasko had a second period powerplay marker, on a set-up from Ferreira, while defenceman Zach Todd’s third of the campaign early in the second gave the home side a short-lived advantage. Todd also set up his team’s other two tallies to earn first star honours. Ryan Collins tied it for the visitors just past the midway mark of the third. Veteran Dylan Giberson scored the only goal of the first period for Ottawa who were out gunned 36-24 on the night. The win improved Brockville’s record to 5-4-0-1, good for fourth in the Robinson Division. Sens stayed first in the Yzerman despite falling to 7-3.

Gloucester 6 – Cornwall 3: Rangers moved closer to escaping the Yzerman Division cellar, surprising Colts at Earl Armstrong Arena in Orleans Friday. High scoring defenceman Andrew Rossy rang up a hat trick with all three markers coming during powerplay opportunities. The 18-year-old from Mont-Royal, Quebec moved to five goals and nine points in 10 appearances and was a deserving first star! Former Kemptville forward Matt Rosebrook has made a huge contribution in only five games since joining Rangers in a late September trade. The Carp native scored twice giving him five goals and six points for his new club. The teams were deadlocked 1-1 after 20 minutes but four second period tallies proved to be the difference for Gloucester (4-7-0-1). Rangers outshot Cornwall 45-31 with Colton Keuhl the other goal-getter. Cornwall (6-5) got a goal in each period with Khalid Alli, Sean King and Kevin Hope the scorers. Colts’ team leader Roman Ammirato set up a pair giving him 17 points including 13 assists in 11 games. He was tied for fifth on the league chart following Friday’s action.  

Earlier last week

Cornwall 3 – Cumberland 2 (OT): Right winger Michael Pontarelli fired the winner at 1:41 of overtime as Colts sent Grads to their second defeat in as many nights Thursday at Ed Lumley Arena in Cornwall. New recruit Pontarelli, an 18-year-old from Laval, Quebec connected during a powerplay opportunity. He also assisted on Colts’ regulation time markers which were both netted by line mate Alexandre Gendron. The other member of the trio, centre Roman Ammirato, took his team leading points total to 15 with a pair of assists. Cumberland was aided by a tremendous goaltending effort from rookie Reilly Turner. He kicked out 60 shots as Cornwall out chanced the visitors by a huge 63-40 margin. Grads led 2-1 going into the third period on the strength of a first period powerplay tally by Mark Golberg and second period strike by team scoring leader Nick Martin, his 10th of the campaign. Gendron’s second early in the third set up OT. Turner’s net minding work earned him third star honours.

Ottawa 3 – Gloucester 1: Crosstown rivals clashed at Jim Durrell Recreation Complex Wednesday and it was the surging Senators who scored two late goals to come away with their fifth consecutive triumph. In the process they regained top spot in the Yzerman Division. It was a well-played contest with Junior Sens out chancing Rangers 31-27. There were just eight minor penalties called in a fast paced contest which took just two hours, five minutes to play. Gloucester however failed to take advantage of six powerplay chances and that definitely hurt! Ottawa rookie left winger Greg Jansz had a big night. The 19-year-old from Bedford, Nova Scotia scored twice and he set up the insurance marker by Hunter Racine. Jansz’s game winner and Racine’s tally came just 18 seconds apart late in the third period. Team captain Alexandre Boivin was the only visitor to beat winning goalie Charlie Millen. Boivin’s second period tally moved him to 15 points including 10 assists, the fourth best total in the league.

Nepean 5 – Cumberland 4: The defending champion Raiders, who came out of the gate slowly this season, leapfrogged Grads in the Yzerman standings by winning their head-to-head meeting at Nepean Sportsplex Wednesday. The victory improved Raiders’ record to 5-3-0-1 while Cumberland dipped to 4-3-1-1. Third year player Keenan Hodgson fired his second goal of the campaign during a powerplay early in the third. His was the game winner! Brandon Watt’s empty netter with 11 seconds left in regulation wrapped up the two points for Nepean who also got single goals from Dalen Hedges, Vincent Llorca and Kenneth Neil. The teams were tied 1-1 after 20 minutes and Nepean led 3-2 heading into the final stanza. Grads’ sniper Nick Martin netted twice giving him nine goals and 13 points in just eight appearances. Rookie winger Travis Douglas made it close with his second of the season at 6:19 of the third. Veteran forward Zach Rodier set up two Cumberland goals. Winning goalie Matt Zawadzki evened his record at 4-4.     

Kanata 4 – Smiths Falls 3 (SO): The teams who battled to the wire for the final CCHL playoff spot last season went head-to-head Tuesday. Bears, who grabbed the eighth and final post season place ahead of Stallions in March, dropped their second game this season against Kanata. This one was decided in a shootout! Both teams have started the new campaign brightly and are challenging for the lead in their respective divisions. The single point awarded to Smiths Falls for reaching overtime, temporarily moved them atop the Robinson standings, one point ahead of near neighbours and arch rivals Carleton Place. Bears can thank league scoring leader Michael Buonincontri for the point! He netted twice, giving him 11 goals in as many games. His second came with 7:39 left in regulation and was enough to get the visitors into OT. The five minute period was scoreless and it was the home team who capitalized with the only goal of the shootout to earn their 13th point in 11 outings. Brandon Petrie triggered a pair of goals early in the third to give Kanata a 3-2 advantage. He also helped set up Derian Plouffe’s second period powerplay score. Connor McLaren had the only first period tally for Smiths Falls who were outshot 38-36 on the night. Petrie and Buonincontri were 1-2 in the three star balloting while Plouffe, who also assisted twice, was the third pick.

Following the Thanksgiving Day clash the CCHL schedule features 16 games from tomorrow (Tuesday) through Sunday!

Jeff Maguire is a career journalist based in Carleton Place. He has covered junior hockey in Ontario for 41 years. Jeff’s report will appear on the CCHL website every Monday throughout the season. He can be reached by e-mail at: jeffrey.maguire@rogers.com