SIJHL This Week

By: Lucas Punkari, Sports Reporter for the Fort Frances Times

Howarth Back in Charge in Thunder Bay

The most successful coach in the history of the SIJHL is set to return behind the bench of the Thunder Bay North Stars.
In a move that was first reported in the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal on Thursday morning, five time league champion head coach Todd Howarth is set to return behind the bench of the North Stars, after the team parted ways with bench boss Kevin Kahoot on Wednesday night.
Kahoot, who took over the coaching duties prior to the start of this season, had guided the team to a 10-9-0-0 record at the time of his firing, but the squad had lost four of their last five games and had been mauled by the league-leading Minnesota Wilderness 9-0 at the Fort William Gardens on Wednesday.
What makes Howarth's hiring so interesting at this point of this season is the fact that he was ousted by the team previously back in January of this year.
At that time, both Howarth and the team's ownership had differing viewpoints on how the situation went down, but at the end of the day former NHL'er Lonny Bohonos would find himself taking over the reigns of a squad that made it into the semis of the Dudley Hewitt Cup.
During his nine-and-a-half year stint with the North Stars prior to then, Howarth was far and away the top of the heap when it came to coaches in the SIJHL, has he had a regular season record of 363-94-32, five Bill Salonen Cups and a Dudley Hewitt Cup from 2006 in his trophy case.
In addition to his success, Howarth is known for his intense style of coaching the bench, as you can quite often hear him yelling throughout the arena and reacting over-the-top at times over certain plays that take place on the ice.
And on a personal note, Howarth has a no-nonsense and tell-it-like-it-is approach during his interviews with the press, which makes him one of my favourite people in sports that I have ever encountered.
As former SIJHL forward Garrett Nystedt said to me on Twitter on Thursday, "He is a man that is not short for words or in expressing his opinion."
So while the hiring of Howarth is an exciting one, the question remains, what does this mean for the North Stars going forward?
Compared to the glory days where the North Stars brought in talent from all over the place, this year's squad is mainly of players from the Thunder Bay area, and the overall age is younger than what is has been in the past.
And standings wise, the North Stars are basically in a dog fight for second in the league table to Fort Frances and Dryden at the moment, though the Lakers and Ice Dogs thumped them in recent affairs.
While the Wilderness, who are ranked fifth in the CJHL at the moment, are far off in the distance when it comes to the race for first in the SIJHL, the North Stars might have a chance to make some noise once they get a full roster once again, as the team has been missing a few bodies due to injuries.
But with Howarth now behind the bench again, Thunder Bay might not be someone you would like to face when the playoffs start up in March.

NOJHL this week.

NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE

Release Date: Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012

NOJHL NOTEBOOK: Eskimos Therrien tops 128-team CJHL in goals per game average

SUDBURY -- Scoring goals in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League is nothing new for Abitibi Eskimos captain Richard Therrien.

Currently with 83 career NOJHL tallies to his credit, including a NOJHL-best 20 so far this season, the Abitibi forward is just one of seven skaters from across the entire 128-team Canadian Junior Hockey League with 20 or more goals to date on the 2012-13 campaign.

Therrien, who turned 20 on Sunday, has notched his 20 markers in just 17 games, which in turn gives the Eskimos forward a 1.18 goals per game average and the best GPG total across the CJHL.

He is tied for fifth nationally in total tallies, but has played in fewer games than any other player in the CJHL 20-goal club.

Finishing second in the NOJHL last season with 44 goals the Abitibi standout is on pace to top that total this season.

Combined with 12 assists Therrien presently sits in second spot in the NOJHL in overall points with 32 trailing league-leader Adam Ritchie of the Soo Thunderbirds by just one point.

The following is a current list of the CJHL goals per game leaders involving those who have scored a minimum of 20 times so far this season. The information includes the player, his team, league, goal totals and GPG avg.

PLAYER                        TEAM           LEAGUE  GP G GPG
Richard Therrien          Abitibi         NOJHL       17 20 1.18
Sebastien Bergeron       Ste-Agathe   LHJAAAQ  22 25 1.14
Anthony Courcelles        Lachine       LHJAAAQ   21 22 1.05
Jerome Raymond           Whitecourt  AJHL           24 21 0.88
Joakim Arsenault            Ste-Agathe  LHJAAAQ  23 20 0.87
Jannick Asselin               Sherbrooke LHJAAAQ  23 20 0.87
Tyler Gjurich                   Buffalo         OJHL         27 22 0.81

WEEK 10: Six games are on the week-10 slate in the NOJHL with action getting underway tonight at 7:30 p.m. as the Sudbury Nickel Barons host the Elliot Lake Bobcats at McClelland Arena in Copper Cliff.

Two more tilts go Friday including Elliot Lake at home to Blind River and the Soo Thunderbirds playing the first of three straight on the road as they pay a visit to Kirkland Lake. Both of those contests feature a 7:30 p.m. face-off.

Saturday sees the T-Birds on the road again as they travel to Iroquois Falls to take on Abitibi while the Beavers host the Nickel Barons in Blind River in a pair of 7:30 p.m. starts.

Wrapping up week 10 will be a 2 p.m. matinee in North Bay Sunday as the Trappers welcome Sault Ste. Marie in a battle between the two clubs that are currently tied for first place in the league standings.

CJHL PROSPECTS: Defenceman Fraser Turner of the Soo Thunderbirds and forward Tait Seguin of the North Bay Trappers have returned from competing in the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Prospects games staged in Nova Scotia over the weekend.

Both players suited up for Team East in a two-game, total goal series against their counterparts comprising the five Western leagues of the CJHL.

Team East was blanked 5-0 in the opener, but rebounded for a 6-3 triumph in the finale to drop the total-goal series 8-6.

Turner did register an assist in the game 2 win, but Seguin was held off the score sheet in the contest.

Player selection for the prospects games was a joint initiative of the CJHL and NHL Central Scouting.

NOJHL THREE STARS: Only three teams in the NOJHL played more than one game last week, so it comes as little surprise that top-end individual game performances are featured, front and center, in this latest edition of the “NOJHL Three Stars of the Week” for the week ending Nov. 11.

RYAN WILDMAN – ABITIBI ESKIMOS: Taking full advantage of the opportunity to skate alongside the Eskies number one trio with captain Richard Therrien and Peter Poulin-Roy, Timmins native Ryan Wildman has responded with three straight multi-point games.

The 19 year-old forward, acquired from the Fort Frances Lakers in early October, has already accumulated 15 points in just nine games, vaulting all the way up to third place in team scoring, behind only his two new linemates.

ANDRE COMTOIS – SUDBURY NICKEL BARONS: A late round pick of the Sudbury Wolves in 2009, feisty forward Andre Comtois is showing signs of adding a significant offensive component to his game. After compiling just four points in his first dozen games with the Nickel Barons this year, the 19 year-old winger has amassed five points in his past two games, including a hat-trick against North Bay, accounting for all of the Sudbury scoring in regulation time.

Racking up 19 and 23 points with his hometown team in the past two years, Comtois is looking for a breakthrough campaign with a club that is definitely in need of a balanced contribution on the attack.

BRANDON JANKE – NORTH BAY TRAPPERS: For a second straight week, the North Bay Trappers have placed a repeat winner among the NOJHL Three Stars. Huntsville native Brandon Janke is back in the mix after enjoying a three-goal effort in a 5-3 win, at home, over the Abitibi Eskimos.

The outburst snapped a three-game stretch in which the 19-year-old returning sniper was held pointless. Despite the lapse, Janke continues to lead his team in scoring with 26 points in 20 games, good for sixth place in the NOJHL.

CJHL TOP 20: Both the Soo Thunderbirds and North Bay Trappers have held on to their positions from a week ago in the latest Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings.

The most recent listings comprised by the CJHL in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting saw the Thunderbirds maintain their ninth overall ranking while the Trappers earned Honourable Mention laurels for a second consecutive week.

Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay sit tied for top spot in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League standings at 31 points apiece with the T-Birds holding two games in hand on the Trappers.

The Soo remains one of the hottest organizations across the 128-team CJHL having won seven in a row while going 11-0-1 in their past 12 contests.

As for North Bay they too have posted a solid record of late registering a 7-1-1-2 mark in their last 11 outings.

Rolling along with an unblemished 20-0 run to start the Alberta Junior Hockey League campaign, the Brooks Bandits remain the No. 1 ranked team in the CJHL again this week.

The Truro Bearcats of the Maritime Hockey League suffered their first loss in regulation time over the weekend, but despite the setback hold on to their No. 2 overall rating nationally while the Flin Flon Bombers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League round out the top three.

The CJHL Top 20 (As of Nov. 12)
1. Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
2. Truro Bearcats (MHL)
3. Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL)
4. Winnipeg Blues (MJHL)
5. Minnesota Wilderness (SIJHL)
6. Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL)
7. Melville Millionaires (SJHL)
8. OCN Blizzard (MJHL)
9. Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL)
10. Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)
11. Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL)
12. Penticton Vees (BCHL)
13. Summerside Western Capitals (MHL)
14. Georgetown Raiders (OJHL)
15. Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
16. Yarmouth Jr. ‘A’ Mariners (MHL)
17. Grande Prairie Storm (AJHL)
18. Humboldt Broncos (SJHL)
19. Smiths Falls Bears (CCHL) 
20. Saint Jerome Pantheres (LHJAAAQ)

Honourable Mention: North Bay Trappers (NOJHL), Merritt Centennials (BCHL), Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL), Dauphin Kings (MJHL) and Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators (CCHL).

The weekly rankings are based upon a variety of factors, including the league in which the teams play, winning percentage, win-loss record, total points accumulated, goals-for versus goals-against ratio, etc.

The CJHL is an amalgamation of 10 Jr. A hockey leagues from across Canada.

More information on the CJHL can be found by visiting the league website at www.cjhlhockey.com.

TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTEBOOK

ABITIBI ESKIMOS – The Eskimos have a stiff test in their lone-game of the week as they host the defending NOJHL champion Soo Thunderbirds at Jus Jordan Arena on Saturday … Abitibi is fifth in the league standings with a 6-10-0-1 overall record.  … Richard Therrien leads all skaters in the NOJHL in goals with 20, including six in his last three games. He is second in total points in the NOJHL with 32. … Therrien is one of seven skaters across the 128-team CJHL with 20 or more goals so far this season. … He tops the CJHL in goals per game average. … The club has gone 4-6 in their past 10 games. … Abitibi is the home side in their next three outings, including a Dec. 1 date in Cochrane vs. Sudbury.

BLIND RIVER BEAVERS – The Beavers take to the ice twice this weekend as they head to Elliot Lake Friday before returning home to host Sudbury at the Community Centre. After that the club’s final three games in November will all be played on the road … Blind River sits sixth in the league standings with a 4-10-1-3 mark. … Tyler Brown and Corey McEwen share the team scoring lead with 18 points apiece. … Brown has a modest three-game point streak on the go as well as picking up points in seven of his past eight outings. … The Beavers have scored the fourth most goals in the NOJHL so far this season at 67, but have also allowed the third most tallies overall at 86.

ELLIOT LAKE BOBCATS – The Bobcats will look to end a seven-game winless streak tonight as they visit Sudbury. … The club has gone 0-6-1 in their last seven and remain in the cellar in the NOJHL standings with a 3-13-0-1 record. … They have scored the fewest goals in the league so far this season with and have allowed the most markers against at 94. … Nicholas Tassone remains Elliot Lake’s scoring leader with 11 points on six tallies and five assists. Five of Tassone’s goals have come on the power play… When scoring first in a game the Bobcats are 2-0-1, but only 1-13 when the opposition strikes first.

KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD MINERS – The Gold Miners remain one of the hottest teams in the NOJHL having gone 6-1 in their past seven games. … Kirkland Lake sits firmly entrenched in third place in the league standings with a 12-6-0-1 overall record. … Their lone game this week is Friday as they host the Soo at The Joe. … The club has allowed third fewest goals against to date at 55. … Connor McNally continues to lead the team in scoring with 17 points in as many outings. … Royce King and Jordan Briand are next on the club with 16 points apiece. … Chris Komma remains third in NOJHL goals-against average at .2.54 and in save percentage at .909 while playing the second most minutes overall at 944. … He has also registered the second most wins in the league to date with 10.

NORTH BAY TRAPPERS – The Trappers lone game this week goes Sunday as they host the Soo Thunderbirds in a first place showdown.  The club earned Honourable Mention in the CJHL rankings for a second straight week. … The Trappers have allowed the second fewest goals in the NOJHL this season at 54 and have scored the most at 92. … Goalkeeper Greg Dodds is second in goals-against average in the league at 2.38. He leads all NOJHL puckstoppers in save percentage at .921. … Brandon Janke is sixth in NOJHL scoring with 26 points. .… Brennen Dubchak is ninth overall while Samuel Blanchet is 10th with 21 and 20 points respectively. …Dubchak has a seven-game point streak on the go. … Cole Klippenstein leads all NOJHL D-men in points with 17. … North Bay is 7-0-1 when Graham Pickard picks up a point.

SOO THUNDERBIRDS – The Thunderbirds are 11-0-1 in their last 12 games picking up 23 of a possible 24 points. The Soo remains ninth in the CJHL Top 20 rankings. … After an 8-0-1 home stand the T-Birds hit the road for three this weekend. …Rookie netminder Joel Horodziejczyk continues to pace all NOJHL puck stoppers in goals-against average at 2.07. He is second in save percentage at .915… Another first-year netminder in Steven Dombrowski has won his last six starts and sits fourth in GAA at 2.93. … Adam Ritchie leads all skaters offensively in the NOJHL with 33 points. Darcy Casola sits tied for third with 31. Derek Battagin (24pts) is seventh and Greg Sartoretto (22pts) is eighth in offensively.

SUDBURY NICKEL BARONS – Sudbury will look to extend a modest win streak to two tonight as they host Elliot Lake.  … The club’s only other game this week goes Saturday at Blind River… Darcy Haines is tied for third in the league in points with 31. … Sebastien Leroux is fifth in league scoring with 29 points. … Leroux has only been held of the score sheet once in 17 games so far this season… Michael Muzyka sits fifth in the NOJHL in goals-against average at 3.53. … Sudbury plays five of their next eight on home ice. …The Nickel Barons have gone 2-8 in their past 10 after starting the year 8-0.  

CCHL This Week

By Jeff Maguire

It was a memorable Remembrance Day for Carleton Place Canadians!

In the morning the entire team, wearing their home jerseys with a blood red poppy pinned to the front, joined thousands of others at the Carleton Place Cenotaph in Memorial Park to pay respects to the town’s 94 dead from two world wars and the Korean War.

A buzz went through the crowd when the team and coaching staff, led by head coach Jason Clarke, quietly joined the November 11 audience for the more than one hour long ceremony.

“I think it is important for our players to know that there wouldn’t be a country or a hockey league without the supreme sacrifice made by those people (service men and women),” Clarke says.

“I think the out-of-town guys were shocked to learn that 94 people from a small town gave their lives in the world wars,” he adds.

Sunday afternoon the players were back in uniform, this time for an important Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) game against first place Smiths Falls Bears. It was a four-pointer for both teams, but it was particularly vital for Canadians who trailed the Robinson Division and league leaders by four points at face-off time.

Carleton Place native Stephen Baylis scored a hat trick and assisted on another to lead Canadians to a 7-3 upset win over their arch rivals.

“The guys played well,” Clarke understated Monday morning.

“We lost twice to them by 4-2 scores early in the season. This time we made some adjustments to our game and it worked.

“I think this was the first weekend (of the season) we played with real consistency.”

Friday night Carleton Place skated past Cumberland Grads of the Yzerman Division by a 5-2 count. With a pair of weekend victories under their belts Canadians have now won three consecutive games at home to improve their previously indifferent record to 6-4-1-0 in the friendly confines of Carleton Place and District Community Centre. Canadians continue to have the best road record in the CCHL with 10 victories in 14 starts to date.

Clarke doesn’t underrate the importance of Sunday’s triumph however!

“Any time you beat the first place team and a nationally ranked hockey club you have accomplished something.

“It definitely felt pretty good,” he admits.

Following play Sunday Carleton Place was tied with Ottawa Junior Senators for the second highest point total in the league. The teams have 33 points apiece, two fewer than Smiths Falls and one more than Pembroke Lumber Kings.

Senators cooled off the previously red hot Lumber Kings Sunday night, blanking them 2-0 in a hard-fought contest in Pembroke. Ottawa now holds down first place in the Yzerman Division.

Meanwhile Nepean Raiders edged Cumberland 1-0 Sunday and they are tied with Kanata Stallions with 31 points in the tight Yzerman standings. Raiders however hold an important four games in hand on Stallions.

The two shutouts registered in the league Sunday were among six ‘0’s put up by goalies in the CCHL this past week.

Ottawa net minder Charlie Millen enjoyed the greatest success. Millen, the son of former National Hockey League goalie turned broadcaster Greg Millen, recorded back-to-back shutouts on the weekend. Millen is tied with three other CCHL puck stoppers with two zeroes apiece. Smiths Falls’ goalie Patrick Martin leads the league with four shutouts.

Sunday results

Carleton Place 7 – Smiths Falls 3: Canadians served notice that they plan to challenge for first place in the Robinson Division. They won a four-pointer against arch rival Smiths Falls and did so convincingly. Carleton Place outshot the visitors 30-16 and outscored them in every period. League scoring leader Chris Maniccia of Smiths Falls opened scoring in both the first and second periods to reach a league best 18 goals and 44 points. Canadians did the rest leading 2-1 and 4-2 and adding three in the final frame to underline a comprehensive victory, their first in three starts against Bears this season. Sophomore left winger Stephen Baylis had a big afternoon. The 18-year-old Carleton Place native triggered a hat trick and he set up another. Brock Edwards had a goal and two assists while Kevin Dufour and Anthony McVeigh added a goal and one helper each. Impressive defenceman Kelly Summers added three assists to his total of 13 points in 24 appearances. The league’s top scoring defenceman Tyler Akeson had the other Bears’ goal in the third period giving him 27 points, good for 11th place on the CCHL list. There were 26 penalties in the somewhat testy contest, 14 of those going to the visitors. Canadians were three for nine with the man advantage and Bears were two for seven. More than 500 watched the game on a summer-like afternoon in Carleton Place.

Ottawa 2 – Pembroke 0: The rebounding Junior Senators cooled previously hot Pembroke and in the process moved past Lumber Kings and into first place in the Yzerman Division. Kings went into the contest with three straight victories and having triumphed in nine of their previous 10 outings. They outshot the visitors 25-24 but couldn’t find a way past Charlie Millen who recorded his second shutout in as many nights for Ottawa. This one was highly competitive! There were no goals in the first period and Sens’ defenceman Paul Landry opened scoring at 8:20 of the middle stanza. It stayed that way until the dying seconds when, with Pembroke goalie Andy Munroe on the bench in favour of a sixth attacker, Ottawa centre Ryan Collins put his ninth of the season into the empty net with just seven seconds remaining. Landry earned an assist on the play. The final result marked the sixth shutout of the week in the CCHL. Fifteen of the game’s 22 penalties were whistled in the third period. Pembroke winger David Fassbender and Ottawa blueliner Stephen Inman were ejected for fighting early in the third. Lumber Kings’ defenceman Keegan Harper picked up two misconduct penalties for unsportsmanlike behavior late in the game which resulted in an automatic game misconduct penalty.

Nepean 1 – Cumberland 0: Raiders are just two behind Yzerman leading Ottawa after blanking Grads in a goaltenders duel at the Sportsplex Sunday afternoon. Back-up puck stopper Ryan Mulder earned his second shutout in seven starts this season, blocking 25 Cumberland scoring tries. At the other end Grads’ Devan Tremblay had an excellent outing, stopping 28 shots. The only goal he allowed was Steven Johnston’s 10th of the campaign at 4:53 of the second period. Raiders’ goalie Mulder had an all-around good afternoon. He earned an assist on Johnston’s game winner to supplement his shutout goaltending. To underline how well Cumberland played, Grads’ left winger Matt Allan was named the first star. Johnston’s tally earned him second star honours. Further testimony to the quality of the game is the fact there were just three minor penalties assessed, two of them to the home team.

Gloucester 6 – Brockville 4: Rangers won for the first time in four games, outscoring Braves at Brockville Memorial Centre Sunday afternoon. For Braves, the fourth place side in the Robinson Division, it was their fourth setback in five outings. They are six points behind third place Cornwall in the division. Gloucester remains fifth in the Yzerman, but is now just five points behind Kanata. After a scoreless opening stanza the teams exploded for seven goals in the middle frame, four of them by Rangers. The visitors outscored Brockville 2-1 in the third. Left winger Chad Millett netted twice and assisted on another to pace the winners. Gloucester captain and scoring leader Alexandre Boivin had a goal and an assist as did Corey Durocher and newcomer Maximilian Veronneau who was playing his first game for Rangers. Braves got a pair of tallies from David Ferreira while scoring ace Ben Blasko triggered his 14th and set up two others. Doug Johnston made 23 saves to earn the goaltending win in his first start for Gloucester. Cody Karpinski suffered the loss despite turning aside an equal number of shots. Each team netted one during man advantage situations.

Ottawa 6 – Kemptville 0: Junior Senators stayed in the thick of the Yzerman Division race by blanking the struggling 73’s Saturday night at Jim Durrell Recreation Complex. Kemptville was kept off the score sheet for a second consecutive night and they remain rooted to the bottom of the Robinson Division and overall standings. For Ottawa it was their second straight win and they remain in a huddle with six other teams fighting for the top positions in the CCHL. Sens moved to 31 points and into second place in their division, just one point behind streaking Pembroke. Charlie Millen earned his first shutout of the campaign turning aside 29 shots. Kemptville held off the Ottawa shooters for one period as the first finished scoreless. The home team peppered 73’s goalie Billy Cooper with 24 shots in the second period alone and they scored three times to put the game away. Three goals in just over 12 minutes in the final frame put the icing on the cake! Team scoring leader Ben Robillard along with Greg Jansz and Luc Deschamps led the charge with a goal and an assist each. Defencemen Derek Brown and Paul Landry and newcomer Chris Goulet, with his first in an Ottawa uniform, had the other goals. A powerplay strike by Jansz early in the second was the winner. Senators picked up eight of the game’s 14 penalties. Kemptville was a disappointing 0-7 with the man advantage.

It was a night of shutouts in the CCHL Friday with three teams blanking their opponents. Three Robinson Division sides, Smiths Falls, Brockville and Hawkesbury all put up 0’s on their way to victory!

Smiths Falls 5 – Cornwall 0: Five third period goals broke open a tight game and propelled league leaders Smiths Falls to yet another victory. It was Bears’ seventh win in eight games and their fourth shutout victory in the same stretch. All four ‘0’s belong to veteran puck stopper Patrick Martin. This time he turned aside 28 shots to blank Colts’ shooters. Bears strong play is resonating with the fans in Smiths Falls. Friday nearly 750 were in the stands to watch as the club’s hot streak continued. The game was scoreless for 46 minutes, two seconds mainly thanks to the work of Cornwall goalie Jordan Piccolino. Patrick Sexton’s fourth goal ultimately proved to be the winner. Rookie winger Daniele Disipio netted the final two goals in less than two minutes late in the game with Connor McLaren’s powerplay marker and Jeffrey Carroll’s 10th tally of the campaign padding the scoring totals for red-hot Smiths Falls. Bears outshot Colts 35-28. Colts’ Piccolino kept his club in the game with 30 saves. He stopped all 18 shots directed his way in the second period and the game remained scoreless after two periods.

Pembroke 4 – Kanata 1: Lumber Kings, the hottest team in the league, rang up their ninth win in 10 starts. In the process they leapfrogged over Stallions and back into first place in the see-saw Yzerman race. The visiting Stallions would never have been in the game had it not been for the work of rookie goalie Brayden St-Germain. The 16-year-old from Stittsville kicked out 42 of the 43 shots he faced as Pembroke out chanced Kanata 53-38. The overworked St-Germain was injured late in the game and replaced by Brandon Lane. Kings led 1-0 and 2-1 at the intervals and they added two unanswered in the third. The final strike, by winger Ryan Erickson, was into the empty Stallions’ cage. Tyler Gaudet gave the home team the lead at 14:04 of the first. Defenceman Carl Greco made it 2-0 Pembroke early in the second period during a powerplay. Kanata forward Joe Breslin replied with 30 seconds remaining in the middle frame, his 10th of the campaign. Colin Bradbury padded Kings’ lead early in the third. Greco added an assist and left winger Liam Biard set up two. There were just four minor penalties in the contest, two to each side. Andy Munroe made 37 saves to record his ninth win in 13 decisions. A large Pembroke crowd of 1,723 watched Kings win for the eighth time in 11 home starts.

Carleton Place 5 – Cumberland 2: A strange quirk in the league schedule saw Canadians face Grads, the last place team in the Yzerman Division, for the third time in five games Friday. Carleton Place took full advantage, winning all three games including back-to-back victories in Navan Oct. 28 and Nov. 2. This time Canadians triumphed in front of nearly 400 home supporters improving their record to 15-8-1-0 to stay four points behind Robinson Division leaders Smiths Falls. Carleton Place led 2-0 after one period only to concede back-to-back strikes by veteran Cumberland forward Zach Rodier in the second period. Canadians’ centre Alex Globke took over the team scoring lead with his 11th goal and two assists. Globke’s marker came with 2:01 remaining in the middle stanza and Carleton Place never looked back. Luke Kasteel with his fifth and Kevin Dufour with his team leading 13th goal rounded out scoring early in the third period. Forward Evan Peterson and defenceman Larry Smith rang up a pair of assists each. The home team held a 36-24 advantage in shots on goal. Justin Laforest improved his record to 5-2 making 23 stops. Reilly Turner was the losing net minder. Canadians led the penalty parade taking nine of 15 infractions. They were two for four on the powerplay while Grads were 1-7.

Brockville 7 – Kemptville 0: Braves won for just the second time in 10 games, taking advantage of the woeful 73’s who lost for the ninth time in 10 outings. Cody Karpinski made 20 saves to record his first shutout of the campaign and the second ‘0’ this season for Brockville who improved to 10-12-0-1. At the end of play Friday Braves were fourth in the Robinson Division, staying two points ahead of Hawkesbury who also scored a shutout victory the same night. As the score indicates this was all Brockville. They outshot the visitors 35-20 and held period leads of 3-0 and 4-0 before triggering three more unanswered in the third. Team scoring leaders Ben Blasko and David Ferreira each had five point nights. Blasko, the third leading scorer in the CCHL, unleashed two goals and he added three helpers. Ferreira fired his 12th goal and he helped set up four. Centre Cory Wilson had two goals and an assist. Braves were two for four on the powerplay. Jacob Tugnutt absorbed the loss to remain winless in three appearances for Kemptville.

Hawkesbury 6 – Gloucester 0: Hawks improved their fifth place record in the Robinson Division to 8-11-1-2, blanking visiting Gloucester the fifth place side in the Yzerman loop. Carmine Guerriero had an easy night in the Hawkesbury cage. He faced just 16 shots, stopping all of them for his second shutout of the season. Hawks fired 33 shots at a pair of Gloucester goaltenders. Left winger Stefan Momesso led the attack with a goal and three assists while four-year veteran Yanik Laliberte had a goal and two helpers. Shane Topf netted what proved to be the winner with 4:17 remaining in the first period. He also had one assist. Single strikes were credited to Carl Faucher, Pietro Antonelli and newcomer Nicholas Brazeau who scored in his first start for Hawks. Starter and loser Gianmarco De Meis gave way to Gunner Rivers at 3:32 of the second period after yielding the first three Hawkesbury goals on 12 shots. Rivers gave up three on 21 shots the rest of the way. The winners were two for five with the manpower advantage.

Early week games

Cornwall 3 – Hawkesbury 2: Two goals in the final nine minutes gave Colts a hard fought win over Hawks at Ed Lumley Arena in Cornwall Thursday. The only reason the game was close was the outstanding play of veteran Hawkesbury goaltender Carmine Guerriero. Throughout more than 50 minutes of play Guerriero frustrated the home team at virtually every turn. He blocked 45 shots as Colts held a wide margin in territorial play, out chancing Hawks 48-25. Guerriero, the game’s second star, kicked out an incredible 21 shots in the second period alone. Despite their clear dominance Cornwall trailed 1-0 and 2-1 at the intervals. Penalties proved to be Hawkesbury’s undoing. Colts struck for three straight powerplay goals to turn what looked like an upset into an important win. Trent Durocher, late in the second period, Michael Pontarelli with his team leading 11th of the campaign and Sean King spearheaded Colts’ comeback. King’s sixth of the season with 3:49 remaining was the winner! Pontarelli also had an assist and was named the game’s first star while Colts’ defenceman Carl Belizario set up a pair. Right winger Justin Villeneuve with his first in 15 games and defenceman Holden Anderson with his third scored for the visitors. Hawks’ scoring leader Brandon Bussey had two assists to take his total to 24 points. Hawks were 0-5 on the powerplay.

Nepean 3 – Carleton Place 2: Matt Zawadzki made 37 saves to lead Raiders to a win over visiting Carleton Place Wednesday night. Canadians dominated territorially, out shooting their hosts 39-24. But they were continually stymied by veteran goalie Zawadzki who was an easy choice as first star. He was especially sharp in the first period turning aside all 15 shots he faced as the visitors held a 15-8 advantage in scoring chances. In the third Zawadzki kicked out 16 shots and allowed just one goal. Nepean was missing forwards Dalen Hedges and Brent Norris, two of their top three scorers while Carleton Place was without veteran defenceman Christian Weidauer. All three were playing for Team Canada East at the World Junior A Challenge tournament in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. At Nepean Sportsplex veteran Canadians’ forward Luke Martin opened scoring at 5:53 of the second period. Keenan Hodgson replied for the home team six minutes later. Vincent Llorca gave Nepean the lead at 7:45 of the final frame with Alex Globke tying it for Carleton Place at 11:29. It appeared the teams were headed to overtime. However, defenceman Michael Vered put the game winner past Tony Kujava with just 1:04 left in regulation. There were just five minor penalties in the well played contest, three going to Carleton Place. There were no powerplay goals.

Ottawa 4 – Cumberland 3: Junior Senators jumped back into the thick of the Yzerman Division race with a hard fought win over visiting Cumberland Wednesday. The result left Ottawa in fourth place, but just two points behind division leading Kanata Stallions. Sens also held a big four games in hand on Kanata after the contest. Grads remained last in their division and 10th overall in the 12 team CCHL. Ottawa controlled the game, outshooting the Navan-based Grads 35-22. Devan Tremblay made 31 saves to keep Cumberland in the game. The teams were tied 1-1 after 20 minutes and Ottawa led 3-2 at the end of two periods. Junior Senators jumped out to a two goal advantage early in the third on Hunter Racine’s powerplay strike. Grads Matt Allan replied during a man advantage situation for Cumberland to make it close. Eric Clitsome opened scoring for the visitors at 4:14 of the first and Eric Witzel, on a powerplay, tied it for Ottawa. At 8:50 of the second period Matthew Morin nudged Grads ahead, also on the powerplay. Even strength strikes by Derek Brown and Ben Robillard, one minute and one second apart, re-established Ottawa’s advantage, setting the stage for an entertaining final frame. Alexandre Savard-Belanger made 19 stops to improve his record to 6-3.

Kanata 5 – Gloucester 2: Stallions turnaround in form this season continued Tuesday with an important home ice victory over division rival Gloucester. The result allowed Kanata to regain first place, one point ahead of Pembroke Lumber Kings in what is shaping up as a very interesting race in the Yzerman Division. The first and third periods belonged to the goaltenders who combined to turn aside all 31 shots they faced. Seven goals were jammed into a frenetic second period. Nic LaBurn opened scoring for Stallions at the 3:03 mark with Rangers’ Christian Leger replying just over three minutes later. Fabian Walsh on a powerplay chance restored the Kanata lead at 6:56. Two and a half minutes later Patrick White knotted the score. Late in the period Stallions erupted for three goals in three and a half minutes. Braeden Moffatt, Colin Horton and Joe Breslin put shots behind Gloucester net minder Gunner Rivers. Stallions’ defenceman Mike Zajac had a big night on offence with three assists. He was the game’s first star! LaBurn with his seventh goal and an assist was the No. 2 pick. Breslin had a two point night as did Kanata captain Curtis Watson. Back-up goalie Brayden St-Germain made 26 stops to improve his record to 4-2. The fast paced contest took just one hour, 56 minutes to play!

There is a very busy week ahead in the CCHL with 17 games on the slate. All 12 teams will see action Friday night.

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 NOTEBOOK: Ritchie and Casola model of consistency for league-leading Soo Thunderbirds

SUDBURY -- The consistent efforts of the Soo Thunderbirds top two scorers are a big reason why the club sits atop the standings in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Forwards Adam Ritchie and Darcy Casola, who sit first and third respectively in NOJHL scoring, are both riding impressive streaks for the red-hot T-Birds.

Casola has reeled off points in 11 consecutive contests amassing 24 total points during his impressive run while helping the Soo post a tremendous 10-0-1 record in that span.

As for Ritchie, his play of late has seen him etch his name on the game sheet in 10 successive outings accumulating 22 points during his run.

He has also notched goals in six straight matches for the T-Birds, all of which have been Sault Ste. Marie victories while netting the game-winning tally in his club’s last two games.

A number of other NOJHLers, among the league’s leading scorers, have modest point streaks on the go as well.

Corey McEwan of the Blind River Beavers is presently riding a seven-game point streak while moving into a tie for 11th in NOJHL offensive production.

He has picked up 12 points during his run.

Meanwhile a pair of North Bay Trappers in forward Brennen Dubchak and defenceman Cole Klippenstein have picked up points in five straight contests.

For Klippenstein his progress has allowed the 20-year-old blueliner to move into the league-lead in scoring among defenceman.

He now has 16 total points in 18 games this season with the Trappers posting a 9-2-1 record in games he registers at least one point.

WEEK 9: A total of five games are on the league slate this week with action getting underway tonight at McClelland Arena in Copper Cliff as the slumping Sudbury Nickel Barons look to get back on track as they host the North Bay Trappers at 7:30 p.m.

A pair of tilts goes Friday including the Soo Thunderbirds wrapping up a nine-game home stand as they welcome the Blind River Beavers to Essar Centre in a 7:30 p.m. start.

The other contest features Kirkland Lake at home to Elliot Lake in a 7:30 p.m. face-off at The Joe.

Saturday’s lone encounter will be played in Iroquois Falls as the Abitibi Eskimos entertain Elliot Lake at 7:30 p.m. at Jus Jordan Arena.

The Eskimos then help wrap-up week 9 in the NOJHL as they pay a visit to the Memorial Gardens in North Bay in a 5 p.m. start on Remembrance Day.

CJHL PROSPECTS: Defenceman Fraser Turner of the Soo Thunderbirds and forward Tait Seguin of the North Bay Trappers will both suit up for Team East roster that will compete in the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Prospects games this weekend in Nova Scotia.

They are among 20 players named to the East side that will compete vs. a squad from the CJHL's five western leagues in a two-game, total goal series for the Presidents Cup Nov. 10-11 in Digby and Yarmouth, N.S.

Game No. 1 goes Saturday in Digby at 7 p.m. AT while the finale will be staged Sunday at the Mariners Centre in Yarmouth at 2 p.m. AT.

The 17-year-old Turner hails from Pontypool, Ont., and recently returned from attending Canada East selection camp. He has scored one goal and added three assists in 11 games so far this season for the defending NOJHL and Dudley-Hewitt Cup champion Thunderbirds

Now in his second season with the Soo, Turner will be skating in his second consecutive Prospects event having competed as one of two NOJHL participants at last year’s games played in Langley, B.C.

As for Seguin, 17, he is in his rookie season for the Trappers where he has picked up 11 points, including eight goals, in 17 games so far this season. The Astorville, Ont., products is tied for fourth on the club in tallies.

The Prospects Games is being held in conjunction with the 2012 World Junior A Challenge. It was created to showcase the top NHL draft eligible players in the CJHL.

Player selection was a joint initiative of the CJHL and NHL Central Scouting.

The following are the CJHL Prospect Games rosters

Team East Roster: http://cjhlhockey.com/media/files/upload/2012_Prospects_Roster_-_East_qwc.pdf

Team West Roster: http://cjhlhockey.com/media/files/upload/2012_Prospects_Roster_-_West_pgz.pdf

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.

NOJHL THREE STARS

BRENNEN DUBCHAK – NORTH BAY TRAPPERS: The second repeat recipient of the 2012-13 season to date, North Bay forward Brennan Dubchak made his presence felt in each and every shift in a three-game road swing through Elliot Lake, Blind River and Sault Ste. Marie.

In his first year with the Trappers, the 19-year-old native of Kenora added another five points to his season total, also garnering recognition as one of the game’s three stars in a pair of outings last week. With 19 points in 18 games, Dubchak trails only Brandon Janke in team scoring, cracking the league top 10 alongside teammate Samuel Blanchet.

MYKAULEY MELANSON – BLIND RIVER BEAVERS: The Blind River Beavers are showing an increased competitiveness of late, in no small part due to the early October acquisition of forward Myckauly Melanson. Despite playing in only half as many games as the bulk of his teammates, the Montreal native has vaulted into fifth in team scoring.

With 12 points in just eight games, the former member of the Cornwall Colts has wasted little time making his presence felt. Since his arrival, the Beavers have posted a record of 2-5-1, but have lost only one game by more than two goals.

PETER POULIN-ROY – ABITIBI ESKIMOS: Yet another astute early season pick-up, Sudbury native Peter Poulin-Roy has settled in nicely on the top line with the Eskies. The smooth-skating forward, who saw action last year in a handful of games with the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL, added another four points to his ledger last week.

With 14 points in 10 games, he trails only captain Richard Therrien in team scoring, picking up a pair of goals while playing opposite a number of very familiar faces in an 8-5 win over the Sudbury Nickel Barons.

CJHL TOP 20: The latest Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings see the Soo Thunderbirds moving into the Top 10 at No. 9 overall while the North Bay Trappers garnered Honourable Mention laurels.

Sitting in first place in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League standings the Thunderbirds remain one of the hottest clubs across the 128-team CJHL having won six in succession while going 10-0-1 in their past 11 outings.

North Bay, who sit one point behind the Soo in the NOJHL with a 12-2-2-2 overall record, have posted a 6-1-1-1 record in their last nine games.

The CJHL Top 20 (As of Nov. 4)
1. Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
2. Truro Bearcats (MHL)
3. Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL)
4. Melville Millionaires (SJHL)
5. Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL)
6. Penticton Vees (BCHL)
7. Minnesota Wilderness (SIJHL)
8. Yorkton Terriers (SJHL)
9. Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL)
10. Winnipeg Blues (MJHL)
11. OCN Blizzard (MJHL)
12. Georgetown Raiders (OJHL)
13. Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
14. Yarmouth Jr. ‘A’ Mariners (MHL)
15. Whitecourt Wolverines (AJHL)
16. Newmarket Hurricanes (OJHL)
17. Smiths Falls Bears (CCHL)
18. Summerside Western Capitals (MHL)
19. Saint Jerome Pantheres (LHJAAAQ)
20. Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)

Honourable Mention: North Bay Trappers (NOJHL), Grande Prairie Storm (AJHL), Swan Valley Stampeders (MJHL), Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL) and the Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL).

TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTEBOOK

ABITIBI ESKIMOS – A two-game week sees the Eskimos at home Saturday to Elliot Lake before venturing to North Bay on Sunday … The club sits sixth in the NOJHL standings with a 5-10-0-1 overall record.  … Richard Therrien leads all skaters in the NOJHL in goals with 16, including five multiple-tally contests. He is fifth in total points in the league with 26. … The club has scored the second fewest goals in the league at 56, but have scored 31 times in their last six games. … After this week the club will be the home side in three straight including a Dec. 1game in Cochrane.

BLIND RIVER BEAVERS – Blind River begins a run of five out of six on the road Friday as they visit Sault Ste. Marie … Blind River has allowed the second most goals against in the league to date at 81. … Corey McEwen is tied for 11th in league scoring with 18 points. He has points in seven straight outings and 11 of his past 13… Tyler Brown is second on the offensively with 17 points in as many games… Samuel Wilbur had a seven-game point snapped in the club’s last outing, a 5-4 overtime setback vs. North Bay.

ELLIOT LAKE BOBCATS – The Bobcats commence a run of three straight on the road as they head to Kirkland Lake and Abitibi this weekend … The Bobcats remain seventh in the NOJHL standings with a 3-12 record. … Nicholas Tassone leads Elliot Lake in offensive production with 10 points overall on five goals and as many assists. … Elliot Lake has allowed the most goals in the league overall so far this season at 84. They have also notched the fewest markers in the NOJHL at 37 … When scoring first in a game the Bobcats are 2-0, but 1-12 when the opposition strikes first.

KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD MINERS – Having gone 5-1 in their past six games the Gold Miners look to continue their winning ways as they host Elliot Lake Friday in their only game of the week. … Connor McNally continues to lead the team in scoring with 17 points in as many outings. That ties him for 13th in the NOJHL… Royce King and Jordan Briand are next on the club with 15 points apiece. … Chris Komma is third in NOJHL goals-against average at .2.54 and in save percentage at .909 while playing the second most minutes overall at 944. … He has also registered the second most wins in the league to date with 10. … The Miners play four of their next five at home.

NORTH BAY TRAPPERS – A two-game week sees the Trappers in Sudbury tonight and at home Sunday vs. Abitibi. … North Bay’s recent success earned them Honourable Mention in the latest CJHL rankings. … The Trappers have allowed the second fewest goals in the NOJHL this season at 47. … Goalkeeper Greg Dodds is second in goals-against average in the league at 2.38. He leads all NOJHL puckstoppers in save percentage at .921. … Brandon Janke leads the team offensively with 23 points in 18 games. .… Brennen Dubchak and Cole Klippenstein both have five-game point streaks on the go. Klippenstein also leads all NOJHL defencemen in points with 16. … Samuel Blanchet had an 11-game point streak snapped Sunday vs. the Soo. … North Bay is 6-0-1 when forward Graham Pickard registers at least one point in a game. … Tait Seguin with play in the CJHL Prospects Games in Nova Scotia Nov. 10-11.

SOO THUNDERBIRDS – The Thunderbirds are 10-0-1 in their last 11 games picking up 21 of a possible 22 points as they remain in top spot in the NOJHL standings. … The Soo’s success saw them move to ninth in the latest CJHL Top 20 rankings. … The T-Birds wrap-up a nine-game home stand this week after having gone 7-0-1 in the first eight contests. Their next road outing is Nov. 16 at Kirkland Lake. …Rookie netminder Joel Horodziejczyk continues to pace all NOJHL puck stoppers in goals-against average at 2.07. He is second in save percentage at .915… Another first-year netminder in Steven Dombrowski has won his last five starts and sits fourth in GAA at 3.04. … Adam Ritchie leads all skaters offensively in the NOJHL with 33 points. Darcy Casola sits third overall with 30. Greg Sartoretto and Derek Battagin are also among the top 10 NOJHL scorers with 22 and 21 points respectively to sit seventh and eighth overall. … Fraser Turner will compete in his second straight CJHL Prospects Games. This edition goes Saturday and Sunday in Nova Scotia.

SUDBURY NICKEL BARONS – The Nickel Barons are 1-8 in their past nine games being outscored 50-26 in that span after starting the season 8-0 and outscoring their opponents 45-22. … Sudbury will look to get back on track tonight as they host North Bay. …18-year-old forward Darcy Haines is second in the league in points with 31. … Sebastien Leroux is fourth in league scoring with 27 points. … Leroux has only been held of the score sheet once in 16 games so far this season… Michael Muzyka sits fifth in the NOJHL in goals-against average at 3.67. … Sudbury plays three of their next four at home as well as six of nine.

CCHL This Week

By Jeff Maguire

Despite dealing with serious adversity recently Smiths Falls Bears have tested their depth and found they are good enough to win even without some of their best players.

In a battle of division leaders Sunday afternoon, Bears ran roughshod over Kanata Stallions 7-2. Monday morning they held a three point lead over Pembroke Lumber Kings and a four point edge on Robinson Division rival Carleton Place Canadians in the overall standings in the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL).

Red-hot Pembroke won their eighth game in nine starts Sunday night, downing Yzerman Division rival Gloucester Rangers 5-1 in front of more than 900 fans at Pembroke Memorial Centre. In the process they hopscotched past Kanata and into sole possession of top spot in their division.

Earlier in the day Carleton Place doubled visiting Brockville Braves 4-2 to keep pace with arch rival Smiths Falls. It was Canadians’ third straight win and they also hold a game in hand on both Bears and Lumber Kings.

At the other end of the CCHL table Cumberland Grads completely dominated slumping Kemptville 73’s in a meeting of last place sides. Grads peppered two Kemptville net minders with more than 60 shots on their way to a one-sided 8-4 decision. The rebuilding 73’s have now lost eight of their last 10 starts.

Perhaps the biggest surprise Sunday was Hawkesbury Hawks’ shutout victory against defending CCHL champion Nepean Raiders. Hawks won 3-0 at Nepean Sportsplex behind Carmine Guerriero’s 32 saves.

League leading Smiths Falls has won six of their last seven games despite a rash of serious injuries.

The most serious is a fractured ankle suffered recently by then team goal scoring leader Michael Buonincontri. The 18-year-old left winger underwent successful surgery in his native Montreal and is lost for at least four months. Buonincontri had triggered 14 goals and added 12 assists in 17 games at the time of the injury.

“Michael is gone for four months anyway and we’re very concerned he might not be back this season,” Bears’ head coach Mark Grady said Monday.

Grady is worried that third year winger Cole Allard could also be lost for the duration of the CCHL campaign. The 17-year-old from Petawawa suffered a dislocated shoulder when he lost his balance and crashed into the boards during Bears’ win at Brockville Friday night.

“It is his second dislocation of the same shoulder in a few months and he will likely need surgery,” Grady explains. “So it looks like Cole will be out for a long time too.

“We could be missing six guys for our next game – six good players,” the coach laments.

Concussions

Rookie right winger Ryan Eardley suffered an apparent concussion during Sunday’s win over Kanata. He joins centre Nic Marchand who is now in his second week out of the line-up with the same complaint.

“Concussions are unpredictable. You never know how long they (players) will miss. We hope to have Marchand back soon, but who knows,” Grady outlines.

The 17-year-old from Ayr, Ontario had 10 goals and 7 assists at the time of his injury. Allard had scored once and set up five in 19 appearances.

“Everyone has injuries, so I don’t want to whine about it. But six starters is a lot,” Bears’ coach notes.

“Junior B teams play on the weekend so it is hard to find replacements. You can’t ask a kid to play a game in the afternoon and another one at night,” Grady observes.

The veteran hockey man is particularly disturbed about head hits.

“We’ve had three guys out with concussions lately and all three were the result of head hits.”

He would like to see the league take an even tougher approach to head hits.

“This (concussions) is a big issue in hockey today.”

Fortunately for Grady and Bears, other players have stepped into the breach and are playing very well at present. Chief among them is centre Chris Maniccia.

“He was cut from the Team East camp last week. Chris returned to us Friday and he had 11 points in two games (including six Sunday afternoon),” his coach observes.

Maniccia’s big weekend moved him into sole possession of the CCHL scoring lead with 41 points in 22 appearances.

Smiths Falls has three players among the top six scorers in the league. Left winger Yannick Crete is fourth with 31 points while four-year CCHL veteran Connor McLaren stands sixth with 27 points.

Veteran defenceman Tyler Akeson is the top scoring defenceman in the league with 24 points including 21 assists. Akeson is among four CCHL players tied for 14th in the scoring parade following weekend action.

Quieter week

It was a lighter week in the CCHL with a dozen games played. But as is usually the case in the league, there were some highly competitive contests!

League leaders Smiths Falls continue to light it up! Sunday afternoon they faced Yzerman Division leading Kanata and came away with a one-sided victory that resulted in Stallions falling from the top rung in their division.

Smiths Falls 7 – Kanata 2: Two unanswered goals in the first, two more early in the second period and three during a 10-minute span of the final frame gave Bears their sixth win in seven starts. Smiths Falls (16-6-0-1) was led by centre Chris Maniccia who had a big six-point afternoon on home ice including four assists. Maniccia, an 18-year-old from St. Catharines, has charged past Nepean’s Dalen Hedges to take over the CCHL scoring lead. Line mate Yannick Crete scored twice and set up a pair. Tyler Akeson, the top scoring blueliner in the CCHL, had a powerplay goal, his third and he added two assists. Patrick Sexton and Karson McCartney had the other goals for the winners. Kanata scoring leader Derian Plouffe, on a powerplay and veteran winger Brandon Petrie replied for Kanata. Bears outshot Stallions 31-25 with Jimmy Howe the winning goalie and Brandon Lane suffering the loss. Bears were an impressive four for seven on the powerplay. A third period fracas ended with Stallions’ defenceman Niles Owe and Bears’ winger Brett Costello ejected for fighting. They will miss their team’s next games because the fisticuffs erupted during the final 10 minutes of play.

Pembroke 5 – Gloucester 1: Lumber Kings ended Rangers brief two game winning streak with a comprehensive victory on home ice Sunday night. As a result Pembroke slipped past Kanata, who lost at Smiths Falls earlier in the day, to take over first place in the see-saw battle in the Yzerman Division. Pembroke (14-7-1-1) outshot the visitors 42-31 and they knocked Gloucester starting goaltender Gianmarco De Meis out of the game with their fourth straight goal early in the second period. Kings’ newcomer Ryan Erickson continued his strong play of late with a pair of tallies. He had four points in two weekend games. Brian Hennessey led the attack with a goal and two assists while defenceman Keegan Harper set up three to move to 19 points in 23 games. Charlie Connell and Emilio Audi on a second period powerplay had the other Pembroke markers. Gloucester ace Matt Rosebrook had a second period powerplay strike giving him 13 goals and 19 points in 17 games. He joined Rangers in a late September trade with Kemptville. Andy Munroe kicked out 30 shots for the goaltending win. De Meis replacement Gunner Rivers stopped all but one of the 24 shots he saw in nearly 36 minutes of work.

Carleton Place 4 – Brockville 2: The third best team in the league to date is Carleton Place. Sunday afternoon they kept pace with division rival and league leaders Smiths Falls, doubling visiting Brockville for their third straight win. Canadians have the best road record in the league but they have struggled at home. The win over Braves improved their home ice mark to 4-4-1-0. Heading into this week’s action Carleton Place was in a points tie with Kanata in the overall standings with 29 points from 22 games. However they hold three games in hand on Stallions. Playing in front of more than 450 partisan fans Sunday, Carleton Place overcame a 2-1 first period deficit, scoring the final three goals. The winning and insurance markers came in a span of just under three minutes late in regulation. Canadians outshot Brockville 28-25. Defenceman Kelly Summers led the offence with a goal and two assists. Brock Edwards had the game winner and he set up Anthony McVeigh’s insurance marker with 3:24 left in the third. Evan Peterson fired the other Carleton Place goal during a first period powerplay. Brockville scoring leader Ben Blasko moved to an even 30 points scoring his 11th goal during a first period powerplay and setting up David Ferreira’s game opening strike. With the loss the fourth place Braves fell 10 points behind the second place Canadians in the Robinson Division race.

Hawkesbury 3 – Nepean 0: Hawks surprised defending league champion Nepean for the second time in three meetings this season, with Carmine Guerriero the hero. The veteran puck stopper turned aside all 32 shots he faced at Nepean Sportsplex Sunday afternoon to earn his first shutout of the campaign. Robinson Division Hawkesbury continues to have the second lowest points total in the CCHL while Nepean is just three points behind leaders Pembroke in the Yzerman Division. But in their head-to-head meetings Hawks have earned five of a possible six points. Their only loss to Raiders to date was an overtime setback in the league opener for both teams Sept. 8 during the season opening CCHL Showcase in Kanata. Sunday the visitors got a goal in each period with winger Zac Carr’s second of the season, at 12:48 of the opening period, the eventual game winner. Antonio Roumeliotis made it 2-0 late in the second while Shane Topf rounded out scoring with a powerplay strike at 15:39 of the final frame. This was a very unfriendly affair with 29 penalties called including three fighting majors handed the home team and four to the visitors. The game boiled over with 32 seconds to play when two separate fights led to a dozen penalties and four ejections. The players involved will miss their team’s next games. Roumeliotis picked up two fighting majors which could lead to further league disciplinary action. The teams meet again Nov. 30 in Hawkesbury.

Cumberland 8 – Kemptville 4: Grads took advantage of their home date with slumping Kemptville, totally dominating the 73’s in a meeting of last place teams. Cumberland outshot the visitors by a huge 62-22 margin. If it hadn’t been for the work of Jacob Tugnutt, who relieved starting goalie Billy Cooper late in the first period, it might have been a total rout. Tugnutt turned aside 41 of the 44 shots he faced in just over 43 minutes of action. Grads, who moved within four points of fifth place Gloucester in the Yzerman loop, scored five times in 11 minutes in the opening stanza to take charge. They added three more in the second to lead 8-3 after 40 minutes. Tugnutt stopped all 18 shots he faced in the third to prevent Grads from reaching double figures. Seven different players scored for the winners with veteran centre Eric Clitsome leading the way with two goals and four assists. Clitsome moved into a tie with Nick Martin for the team scoring lead with 24 points. Martin had four assists. Justin Pelock netted once and set up three while Zach Rodier and Trevor Packard had a goal and two assists each. Grads rang up 23 scoring points and they were three for nine with the man advantage. Right winger Jake Butler led 73’s with a goal and an assist. Not surprisingly, with the game out of reach, tempers boiled over on the Kemptville side. The visitors were assessed 93 minutes in penalties while Cumberland picked up 62 minutes. Kemptville had four players banished, three for fighting while Grads picked up two fighting majors among a dozen infractions.

Leaders win Friday

There were five games played Friday night with the table toppers in the Robinson Division, Smiths Falls and Carleton Place, both winning.

In the Yzerman Division vastly improved Kanata took over temporary possession of top spot with Pembroke also winning to move within a point of the division lead.

Smiths Falls 6 – Brockville 5: Bears are getting used to life without scoring ace Michael Buonincontri. At Brockville Memorial Centre it was centre Chris Maniccia, the club’s scoring leader, moving into a tie with Buonincontri for the team goal lead with 14. Maniccia fired a hat trick and added two assists to lead the visitors to their fifth win in six starts. In the process he moved to 35 points, one behind CCHL scoring leader Dalen Hedges of Nepean whose team was idle Friday. Maniccia scored twice early in the third to give Bears a 6-2 lead. The home team roared back with three goals in 10 minutes and fell just short. Brockville outshot Smiths Falls 35-27 but was foiled by red-hot goalie Patrick Martin who turned in another fine effort for Bears. Defenceman Tyler Akeson, just back from the Team East training camp, had a goal and two assists with forward Yannick Crete contributing three helpers for the league leaders. Zach Todd, who moved a point behind Akeson (they are the highest scoring blueliners in the league), had a goal and three assists for Brockville. Braves’ scoring leader Ben Blasko, Cory Wilson and Taylor Henry had a goal and an assist each in a losing cause. Tempers flared in the third period with Bears’ defenceman Patrick Sexton and Braves’ rearguard Ryan Walter ejected for fighting.

Carleton Place 3 – Cumberland 1: For the second straight game Canadians and Grads tangled in Navan and for a second straight game Carleton Place came away with a two goal victory. In an oddity in the long CCHL schedule the clubs played back-to-back games in the same arena. The previous Sunday afternoon Canadians doubled Grads 4-2. This time around they dominated in a fast contest which featured just nine minor penalties and was played in one hour, 58 minutes. Devan Tremblay kept his side in the contest with a 32 save performance for Cumberland who were outshot 35-21. With the win Canadians stayed four points behind Robinson leaders Smiths Falls. The first period was scoreless but centre Alex Globke netted his ninth of the campaign for the visitors midway through the second. Three and a half minutes later it was centre Matthew Morin equalizing for Grads. Then, with 1:36 left in the middle frame, Alex Frere triggered his fifth during a Carleton Place powerplay and that was the winner. Despite a 12 save effort by Tremblay the visitors wrapped it up in the third period. Luke Kasteel rang up his fourth of the campaign at 8:43. Back-up goalie Justin Laforest, making his fifth start for Carleton Place, turned aside 20 shots to improve his record to 4-2. Globke, with one tally and two assists, was the first star. Kasteel, with a goal and a helper, was No. 2 on the list.

Kanata 4 – Hawkesbury 3 (SO): Stallions continue to show good form in the early going this season. In fact they vaulted into sole possession of first place in the very close Yzerman Division on the strength of a shootout triumph in Hawkesbury. Hawks have struggled overall but they are competitive at home, especially on Friday nights. They went into the contest with five wins in seven Friday games at Robert Hartley Arena. Hawks might have won this one too except for a late rally by the visitors which produced two goals in the final eight minutes of play. Hawkesbury led 3-1 until Fabian Walsh netted his seventh for Kanata at the 11:52 mark. Then, with goalie Brandon Lane on the bench in favour of a sixth attacker, left winger Joe Breslin scored unassisted with 1:26 left in regulation to force overtime. The five minute extra period was scoreless. Two of the three Stallions who went to the line scored in the shootout phase to secure the bonus point. Hawks came up empty on two free shots. Cameron Blakely triggered a first period goal for Kanata. Antonios Roumeliotis led the home team with a goal and an assist while Mathieu Galipeau and Carl Faucher had the others. Ex-Stallion Brandon Bussey took his team leading points total to 22 for Hawks with a pair of assists. Kanata outshot Hawkesbury 33-31 with Carmine Guerriero the losing net minder.

Pembroke 3 – Kemptville 0: The visiting Lumber Kings deepened the hole Kemptville is digging for themselves, blanking 73’s and sending them to their eighth setback in 10 games. Pembroke finished the night a point behind Yzerman leaders Kanata. Kemptville (5-13-0-2) is in the Robinson Division basement with the worst record in the league. They ended the night three points adrift of Hawkesbury. The 73’s played with Pembroke territorially and they finished the game with a 25-24 advantage in shots on goal. But they couldn’t beat Kings’ net minder Andy Munroe. Munroe, an 18-year-old native of Keswick, Ontario recorded his second shutout of the campaign, improving his record to 7-4 after 11 starts. He was an easy pick for first star! Rookie defenceman Charlie Connell netted what proved to be the game winner during a powerplay at 12:01 of the opening period. It was Connell’s first goal in a Pembroke uniform. Centre Owen McDade rubberstamped the win with goals in each of the second and third periods. McDade moved to six goals on the campaign. Right winger Ryan Erickson set up a pair of goals giving him three points in 11 appearances. Billy Cooper was the losing goaltender. Kemptville took eight of the game’s 14 minor penalties.

Gloucester 2 – Ottawa 1: Two first period goals and outstanding goaltending by Gunner Rivers were enough to give the improving Rangers their second 2-1 win in a row on home ice Friday. They edged Cornwall by the same score in overtime Oct. 28. Gloucester (10-11-0-2) solidified their hold on eighth place in the league moving to 22 points, just five behind Ottawa and Nepean. Two losses in a row were enough to peg the previously hot Junior Senators back to fourth place in the extremely close Yzerman Division race. Rivers’ net minding heroics were the main factor in this one! He kicked out 30 pucks as the visitors held a big 31-18 shots advantage and dominated territorially. The 17-year-old Ottawa native failed to make the three star selection at the end however! Matt Rosebrook’s first period powerplay goal helped him earn first star honours. Centre Patrick White netted shorthanded with 4:50 left in the opening stanza and his was the game winner. Ben Robillard took over Sens’ scoring lead with a second period powerplay strike. He moved to a team high nine goals and 23 points in 18 starts. Ottawa goalie Charlie Millen turned aside 16 shots and saw his record dip to 7-5. It was another quick game, finishing in an hour and 55 minutes. The fact just seven penalties were whistled all night (four went to Rangers) contributed to the rapid progress of the contest.

Early week games

Cornwall 3 – Nepean 1: Colts cooled the previously red-hot Raiders with a strong performance at home Thursday. Last season’s finalists have now met three times in the current campaign with Cornwall winning all three encounters. Nepean went into the contest on a four game winning streak. The victory moved Colts into a points tie for second place in the Robinson Division with Carleton Place. Canadians had played two less games however. Raiders remained in a three-way points tie atop the Yzerman loop. Michael Pontarelli was the hero for the home team! The 18-year-old winger from Laval, Quebec scored twice and set up the other Cornwall marker which was triggered by team scoring leader Roman Ammirato during a first period powerplay. Ammirato moved to 25 points while Pontarelli, who scored midway through the second and late in the final frame, jumped to 19 points including a team high eight goals. Rookie forward Wyatt Coghill, with his fourth of the campaign, ruined Jordan Piccolino’s shutout bid at 11:07 of the third period. Cornwall outshot Nepean 38-33. Raiders’ special teams let them down in this one! They yielded the only powerplay goal. But the most telling statistic was that Nepean went 0-9 with the man advantage as Cornwall was assessed nine of the game’s 13 minor penalties.

Kanata 4 – Brockville 2: Braves held the territorial advantage in Tuesday’s contest in Kanata. They also had a 2-0 lead early in the second period. But as he does so often, Stallions’ goalie Brandon Lane tipped the scales in Kanata’s direction. The 20-year-old Oakville, Ontario native blocked 39 shots as the visitors held a 41-32 advantage in that department. Lane’s effort earned him second star honours. Derian Plouffe scored twice to pace the winners. Plouffe improved his team leading points total to 31 including 15 goals. He stood second on the CCHL chart after the game. Braves’ rookie Aaron Hickie opened his CCHL account with the only first period goal and it came in his hometown. Hickie, 17, is a Kanata native. All of the remaining tallies came during a hectic second period. Centre David Ferreira gave Braves a two goal advantage 42 seconds into the middle stanza during a powerplay. Stallions rallied, scoring four unanswered in a span of 9:22. Plouffe netted the first goal and he also fired the fourth and final marker during a man advantage situation at the 12:59 mark. In between Nic LaBurn tied it and dependable Joe Breslin triggered the winner, his eighth. Lane (10-8 after 20 starts) contributed 13 saves during the decisive second period. The final frame was scoreless as Kanata moved into a points tie with Nepean and Ottawa in the competitive Yzerman Division.

There is a busier week ahead with 14 games on the CCHL slate from 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