Thursday, April 19, 2012

SPIRIT DOMINATE THE SOO

Press Release

With a full day to rest between games this time, the Stouffville Spirit (pictured, STO - Thomas Tsicos & SOO - Remo Febbraro - photo credit: James Mirabelli) took to the ice Thursday afternoon for their final round-robin game of the 2012 Dudley-Hewitt Cup with a playoff berth on the line. Beat the 2-0 NOJHL champion Soo Thunderbirds and the playoff game was guaranteed. Lose and your fate was left to the final game between Thunder Bay and Wisconsin on Thursday night.

Jon Hall started his 20th consecutive game for the Spirit, while John Kleinhans got the start for the Thunderbirds. Stouffville finally found their scoring touch after notching only four goals in the first two games of the tournament, scoring early-and-often during a dominant first period performance. The Spirit outshot the T-birds 20-8 and chased Kleinhans from the net as they pounded six goals past the startled Soo netminder. Michael Robinson netted a pair for the Spirit during the first two minutes of the game and the relentless pressure would continue for much of the penalty-filled first period that saw both teams combine for seven minor penalties. Alex Botten led the charge with two goals and two assists, while defenceman Robert Powers recorded three helpers. Other Spirit goal scorers were Brandon Gaudette and OJHL Playoff MVP Drake Caggiula with his first of the tourney.

The Spirit picked up where they left off in the first as Botten notched his fifth point of the game on a Robert Rawlins goal, giving Stouffville a 7-0 lead early in the second. From that point forward, the Spirit began a parade to the penalty box that would see them take five more minors. Netminder Jon Hall continued his stellar play, bailing them out of the odd-man situations. With less than a minute remaining in the period, Christian Powers fired a shorthanded goal past Soo back-up Remo Febbraro to give the Spirit an 8-0 lead entering the break. Alex Botten picked up his sixth point of the game to lead all scorers and the shots after two periods of play were 37-19 in favour of Stouffville.

Period three would see the march to the penalty box continue with the officials handing out some ten minute misconducts as well, in an attempt to stem the rising tension. The two teams would combine for 60 penalty minutes during the game. Just over four minutes in, Spirit captain Andrew Doyle increased the lead to 9-0 with their third power play goal of the game. Minutes later Kevin Michelcavage notched a power play goal for the Thunderbirds to break Hall’s shutout bid. Soo’s Darcy Casola followed that up by banging one home from a scramble in the slot and it was 9-2 for the Spirit. Knowing that every goal would count potentially in a tie-breaker, the Spirit squeezed a final goal home with just eight seconds remaining as Thomas Tscios made the final score 10-2 for his club.

The Spirit outshot the Thunderbirds 52-24, dominating in all facets of the game from virtually start to finish. Alex Botten picked up Player of the Game honours for the Spirit with his two goal, six point effort this afternoon. While Greg Sartoretto took home the award for the Soo.

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

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