Saturday, March 26, 2011

2011 OHL Cup - Day 4 Recap

Press Release

The 40-game round-robin of the 2011 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament wrapped up on Friday evening with the top two teams in each Division advancing to the Quarter-Finals which will be played Saturday morning at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, followed by the Semi-Finals in the evening.

Quarter-Final Schedule:
10:00 am - Quarter-Final 1 (1st D3 vs. 2nd D2) - Toronto Jr. Canadiens (4-0-0) vs. Ottawa Jr. 67's (2-2-0) (67's advance ahead of Elgin Middlesex Chiefs and Oakville Rangers by virtue of the goal differential tiebreaker).
10:30 am - Quarter-Final 2 (1st D2 vs. 2nd D3) - Don Mills Flyers (3-0-1) vs. Mississauga Senators (3-1-0)
11:45 am - Quarter-Final 3 (1st D4 vs. 2nd D1) - Markham Majors (3-1-0) vs. Ottawa Valley Titans (2-1-1) (Titans advance ahead of the NOHA by virtue of the goal differential tiebreaker, and Majors are seeded higher than the Waterloo Wolves by virtue of their head-to-head result).
12:15 pm - Quarter-Final 4 (1st D1 vs. 2nd D4) - Toronto Marlboros (4-0-0) vs. Waterloo Wolves (3-1-0)

Semi-Final Schedule:
5:00 pm - Winner of QF1 vs. Winner of QF2
7:00 pm - Winner of QF3 vs. Winner of QF4

Final Day 4 Round-Robin Results:

Game 40: Toronto Jr. Canadiens 6 (4-0-0) vs. Mississauga Senators 3 (3-1-0)
The Canadiens and Senators were playing for top position in Division 3 with both teams assured a Quarter-Final matchup.  These familiar foes showed their distaste for each other throughout the game which was led by the Canadiens 2-0 after the first period.  A wild second period produced six goals including three apiece before Brandon Robinson capped the scoring with his second of the game for the Canadiens on the power play at 11:57 for the lone goal of the third period.  Player of the Game Leonard Dziemianko led the way with two goals and an assist for the Canadiens while John Woolsey had a goal and an assist, and both Luke Carter and David Coll picked up two helpers.  The Senators had multi-point efforts from Player of the Game Troy Crema with a goal and an assist, and defenceman Christian Zanetti who had two assists.  Spencer Martin posted his tournament-best fourth win in the crease for the Canadiens.

Canadiens Player of the Game - Leonard Dziemianko (2G, 1A)
Senators Player of the Game - Troy Crema (1G, 1A)
Game Summary

Game 39: Markham Majors 5 (3-1-0) vs. Waterloo Wolves 2 (3-1-0)
The Markham Majors needed a win to advance to the Playoff Round of the OHL Cup, and an explosive start to the third period led by Player of the Game Landon Schiller helped them reach their goal.  The Majors trailed 2-1 when Schiller was awarded a penalty shot and made the most of his chance at 1:17 to tie the game.  "I caught him cheating so I went with my move, faked backhand and shot high glove and it went in," Schiller said following the game.  That same shift, Daniel Nikandrov chipped the puck off the boards to Schiller who fired a slapshot five-hole to take give the Majors the lead just 17 seconds after his penalty shot goal.  "We knew we had to win and we are a confident team right now just riding our momentum."  Jack Hidi increased the lead to 4-2 with his first goal of the tournament at 2:50 before Ryan Kirkup scored his second of the game on the power play at 5:32.  Jordan DeKort, who started all four round-robin games for the Majors earned his third win.  Kyle Platzer and Nick Hirst scored for the Wolves.

Majors Player of the Game - Landon Schiller (2G)
Wolves Player of the Game - Nick Hirst (1G)
Game Summary

Game 38: Toronto Marlboros 4 (4-0-0) vs. Ottawa Valley Titans 1 (2-1-1)
The Toronto Marlies handed the Ottawa Valley Titans their first loss of the OHL Cup to grab top spot in Division 1 while the Titans still advance as the second seed in the Division with five points.  The Marlies scored four unanswered goals beginning with Chance MacDonald's first at 11:14 of the opening period, followed by three second period goals including two in the final minute from Aaron Berisha and Michael Sands.  The Titans' Stephen Cooney, who entered the day as the tournament's top scorer, tallied on the power play at 4:42 of the third.  Alexander Fotinos won his second game of the tournament between the pipes.
Marlboros Player of the Game -Chance MacDonald (1G)
Titans Player of the Game - Evan de Haan (1A)
Game Summary

Game 37: Don Mills Flyers 2 (3-0-1) vs. Oakville Rangers 1 (2-2-0)
With a playoff berth already clinched, the Don Mills Flyers used their fourth and final Round-Robin game as an opportunity to gain momentum and play spoiler against the Rangers who needed a win or a tie to advance.  Matt Buckles opened the scoring for the Flyers on the power play at 6:37 with the Rangers quickly responding on a goal by team-leader Sean Perichak who notched his fifth goal and seven point of the OHL Cup.  His goal would be all the offense the Rangers would muster and BJ Salerno put the game-winner away just 1:43 into the third.  Charlie Graham posted the win in goal for the Flyers.

Flyers Player of the Game - Aidan Wallace (Forward)
Rangers Player of the Game - Jake Smith (Goaltender)
Game Summary

Game 36: NOHA 4 (2-1-1) vs. Halton Hurricanes 3 (1-3-0)
In need of a win for any chance at a playoff position, NOHA top scorer Danny Desrochers put his team on the board in a rough and scrappy second period with his fourth goal and sixth point of the tournament.  The NOHA built on their lead courtesy of a Tyler Brown shorthanded goal at 8:03 of the second before Liam Clare brought the Hurricanes to within one heading into the second intermission flood.  The teams settled down in the third and Marc Dube extended the NOHA lead to two at 4:27.  To their credit the Hurricanes battled and found some energy with a William McDonald goal less than a minute later.  Brown picked up his second goal of the game for the NOHA on a great individual effort going end-to-end to slide home his third of the tourney.  Brody Milne made things interesting scoring for the Hurricanes with 38 seconds to play, but NOHA goaltender Kenny Appleby would allow nothing more to post his second win.  Jacob Harris, held scoreless today, had four points in four games to lead the Hurricanes.
NOHA Player of the Game - Kenny Appleby (Goaltender)
Hurricanes Player of the Game - Sebastian Strangherlin (1A)
Game Summary

Game 35: Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs 3 (2-2-0) vs. Barrie Colts 0 (1-3-0)
With both teams in need of a win to keep a shot at a Division 4 playoff berth alive, the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs prevailed with a 3-0 shutout win over the Barrie Colts.  Braydon Banitsiotis closed the door to earn the shutout while Carter Verhaeghe had three points scoring twice and adding an assist to lead the offense.  Verhaeghe filled the net at 8:52 of the second period which held as the game-winner while a shorthanded goal early in the third period at 1:39 provided the insurance.  The Bulldogs' Josh Pace added a goal for a two-point game giving him six points in four games to lead the team.  Held off the scoresheet today, Alex Carnevale of the Colts led the club with four goals in as many games.

Bulldogs Player of the Game - Michael Harris (Forward)
Colts Player of the Game - Brendan Alward (Forward)
Game Summary

Game 34: Thunder Bay Kings 1 (0-3-1) vs. York Simcoe Express 1 (1-2-1) OT
Despite both teams being eliminated from playoff contention prior to the start of the contest, the Kings and Express played an entertaining game skating to a 1-1 draw.  Goaltenders Eric Mann for the Kings and Jake Rennie in his first start for the Express were rock solid.  After a scoreless first period, Billy Exell found the net on the power play at 2:06 of the second period.  The Kings held the lead until 4:26 of the third period when Nick Moutrey tied the score with his third goal of the tournament.  The overtime period created chances both ways with the Express even pulling their goaltender in the final few seconds of the period with an offensive zone faceoff to press for the win.

Kings Player of the Game - Eric Mann (Goaltender)
Express Player of the Game - Rory McGuire (Defenceman)
Game Summary

Game 33: Elgin Middlesex Chiefs 7 (2-2-0) vs. St. Catharines Jr. Falcons 4 (0-3-1)
The Elgin Middlesex Chiefs exploded for seven goals to wrap up their round-robin schedule with a win over the St. Catharines Jr. Falcons.  The ALLIANCE Champions led 2-0 after the first period before Johnny Kompson scored for the Falcons at 3:53 on the power play to open the second.  That was as close as the Falcons would come as four straight Elgin Middlesex goals continued to stretched their lead.  Four Chiefs' players picked up three points each including Matt Lencz and Mitchell Fitzmorris with two goals and one assist each, Derek Todosichuk with a goal and two assists, and Player of the Game Matt Cimetta with three assists.  Fitzmorris and Todosichuk finish the round-robin tied for the team-lead with seven points in four games.  Eric Bogart earned his first win in goal for the Chiefs.

Chiefs Player of the Game - Matt Cimetta (3A)
Falcons Player of the Game - Johnny Kompson (1G, 1A)
Game Summary

Game 32: Toronto Jr. Canadiens 4 (3-0-0) vs. Welland Tigers 3 (1-3-0)
The Toronto Jr. Canadiens overcame an early 2-0 deficit with four unanswered goals to improve to 3-0-0 in the tournament clinching a Quarter-Final berth.  They will wrap up the Round-robin against the undefeated Mississauga Senators in a game that will determine the number one seed in Division 3.  "We are happy to advance but we want the top spot," said Canadiens Player of the Game Andrew Mullen who scored a goal and an assist.  "We have had some close games with them this year, but we need to get off to better starts and work for the first goal."  Matt McCartney and Kyle Fransen each chipped in two assists for the Canadiens, with Spencer Martin winning his third straight game in goal.  Hunter Garlent, who opened the scoring for the OMHA Champion Tigers, tied for a team-high with three goals and one assist alongside Anthony DiFruscia who had one assist in this contest.

Canadiens Player of the Game - Andrew Mullen (1G, 1A)
Tigers Player of the Game - Brandon Cercone (1A)
Game Summary

Game 31: Toronto Marlboros 13 (3-0-0) vs. North Jersey Americans 1 (0-4-0)
The top-ranked Toronto Marlboros powered their way to a third straight victory led by a five-point game by Joshua Ho-Sang who picked up a hat-trick and two assists.  Player of the Game honours were claimed by Cody Thompson who was one of four other players to produce a four-point game.  The win clinched a Quarter-Final berth for the Marlies who will play the unbeaten Ottawa Valley Titans later in the day.  Alex Gleason scored his team-high third goal of the tournament for the Americans who went winless in their first OHL Cup appearance.

Marlboros Player of the Game - Cody Thompson (1G, 3A)
Americans Player of the Game - Alex Gleason (1G)
Game Summary

Game 30: Markham Majors 2 (2-1-0) vs. TPH Thunder 0 (1-3-0)
Jordan DeKort shut the door between the pipes for the Majors to earn his second win of the tournament as Player of the Game.  Braden Lyons scored what would hold as the game-winner at 3:06 of the first period and Ryan Kirkup's second goal of the tournament provided enough insurance for the Majors who have a key test against the undefeated Waterloo Wolves later in the day.  The Thunder suffer their third loss of the tournament and will not advance to the Playoff Round after a final four appearance by the organization one year ago.

Majors Player of the Game -Jordan DeKort (Shutout)
Thunder Player of the Game - Kale Bennett (Defenceman)
Game Summary

Game 29: Don Mills Flyers 6 (2-0-1) vs. Ottawa Jr. 67's 4 (2-2-0)
The Don Mills Flyers secured a berth in the 2011 OHL Cup Quarter-Finals with a 6-4 win over the ODMHA Champion Ottawa Jr. 67's in a back and forth battle.  The Flyers had multi-point efforts from five different players including two goals and an assist from Aidan Wallace, three assists from Adam Bateman, a goal and an assist each from BJ Salerno and Adam Abu-Ali, with Player of the Game Max Domi leading the way with two goals including the game-winner plus two assists.  "This win was huge, we have been working for this all year," Domi said after the win in their first game against the 67's since last year's Bantam Championship.  "It feels nice to contribute and for our offense to put six goals in the net since we struggled earlier on."  Daniel Disipio, Maximillian Veronneau, and Matthew Hudson each had two points.  Kristian Leger earned the win in goal for the Flyers.

Flyers Player of the Game - Max Domi (2G, 2A)
67's Player of the Game - Matthew Hudson (2A)
Game Summary


(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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