Press Release
The 2013 Ontario Hockey League Cup Showcase Tournament presented by
Visit Orlando and hosted by the Greater Toronto Hockey League opened
Tuesday evening at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, ON, with four
games on the schedule. A full 16-game schedule resumes on Wednesday
morning.
2013 OHL Cup – Day 1 Results:
Game 1: Whitby Wildcats 2 (1-0-0) vs. Toronto Red Wings 1 (0-1-0)
By Mark McKelvie
The OMHA finalist Whitby Wildcats kicked off the 2013 OHL Cup with a hard fought 2-1 victory over the GTHL’s Toronto Red Wings.
The two squads came out flying with each side on the receiving end of
some big collisions early on. The physical first period saw neither
team get many chances offensively.
The Red Wings were able to get the first tally of the game quickly
into the second period as Kyle Clarke tipped in a point shot a little
over a minute into the frame. Whitby would respond to tie it midway
through the period. Wildcats’ forward William Ward came in down the
right side on a two on one and elected to shoot snapping it past Red
Wings goaltender Jeremy Helvig.
In the third period the Wildcats went to work on the powerplay but
Helvig slammed the door shut twice on Wildcats forward Bryce Yetman who
banged away around the crease. The Wildcats however, were able to solve
Helvig later on in the frame as Hayden McCool fired home a snap shot
from the high slot to put Whitby ahead.
“Luckily the puck landed right in my skates and I took a quick snap
shot without even looking and I saw the mesh move,” said McCool
following the game. “It was a great feeling putting us up 2-1 with
limited time left in the game.”
The Red Wings looked to answer back but a late penalty with just over
a minute remaining dug the hole a little deeper for the Red Wings to
climb out of. The Red Wings would get the puck in deep in the dying
seconds but never got a good chance towards the net.
The win for Whitby was a nice rebound after losing the OMHA finals to Oakville two days prior.
McCool says that the Wildcats expectations are high for the rest of the tournament.
“We’re a really talented hardworking team; hopefully we can prove a lot of people wrong and make it as far as possible.”
Wildcats Player of the Game – William Ward (1G)
Red Wings Player of the Game – Ryan Markovic
Game Summary
Game 2: Barrie Jr. Colts 4 (1-0-0) vs. Toronto Marlboros 3 (0-1-0)
By Rob Benneian
The Barrie Jr. Colts scored an important victory 4-3 over the Toronto Marlboros in both team’s first games of the 2013 OHL Cup.
The
Colts came flying out of the gates and set the tone physically in
establishing a 2-0 lead on goals by Lucas Smilsky and Austin Gerhart.
“We
definitely like to get in on the forecheck, have the first guy in
separate their defender from the puck,” said Colts head coach John
MacArthur. “That’s the style we play and that’s how we seem to generate
our chances.”
Toronto captain Dylan Strome cut the lead in half
before the end of the first period and assisted on Ryan Hunt’s
game-tying goal early in the second. The Marlboros completed the
comeback when Aric Smith’s power play goal gave them a 3-2 advantage.
However, they could not enjoy their lead for long as Smilsky’s second of the game came just under a minute later.
JD
Falconer scored the decisive goal midway through the third period when
he came down the right wing and fit the puck into a small hole between
Marlboros goaltender Tyler Richardson’s shoulder and the crossbar.
Next
up for Toronto is a date with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association
Stars, while the Colts will faceoff against the Eastern Ontario Wild.
Colts Player of the Game – Lucas Smilsky (2G)
Marlboros Player of the Game – Ryan Hunt (1G 1A)
Game Summary
Game 3: Toronto Jr. Canadiens 3 (1-0-0) vs. Central Ontario Wolves 2 (0-1-0)
By Mark McKelvie
Nicolas Mucci came through with only nine seconds remaining in the
third period to lift the Toronto Jr. Canadiens past the Central Ontario
Wolves 3-2.
The Wolves came out and held the Jr. Canadiens off the board for the
first two periods. Jake Bricknell got the Wolves on the board midway
through the first period, while Nick Thomakos would extend the lead for
the Wolves in the second period sliding the puck underneath Jr.
Canadiens goaltender Izzy Benigno during a wild scramble in the crease.
The Jr. Canadiens got on the board in the third period with a quick
goal from William Lawrence a little over a minute in and the Jr.
Canadiens did not stop there. Jr. Canadiens forward Nikita Korostelev
would dash in on a breakaway and deke to the backhand just missing the
goal five minutes into the frame. Korostelev continued to fly around the
surface and with 4:19 remaining the speedster would go through the
Wolves defenders before sliding the puck over to Vladislav Sharipov who
snapped it past Wolves goaltender Jimmy Graham to tie the game.
The Jr. Canadiens continued to pressure the Wolves late into the
third controlling most of the play. The Wolves were able to get the puck
out with 15 seconds remaining and began a change that would be costly.
The Jr. Canadiens transitioned perfectly catching the Wolves off-guard
in the middle of the line change. Nicolas Mucci took a pass in the slot
and buried it with a one-timer that would be the game winner for the Jr.
Canadiens.
“I knew there was like ten seconds left and I just wanted to get it
to the net,” said Mucci following the game. “My teammate made a nice
pass and I just wanted to get it on the net because I knew the goalie
was going to have to move low and fast to make the save.”
Mucci said that his team knew they could comeback in the third period.
“We knew we could score goals quick, we just had to forecheck hard
and get pucks to the net and finish on our chances.” said Mucci.
Mucci was awarded player of the game for the Jr. Canadiens while Jake Bricknell was named Central Ontario’s award recipient.
Jr. Canadiens Player of the Game – Nicolas Mucci (GWG)
Wolves Player of the Game – Jake Bricknell (1G)
Game Summary
Game 4: Mississauga Rebels 2 (1-0-0-0) vs. Waterloo Wolves 0 (0-1-0)
By Rob Benneian
A first period goal by Nicholas Dattolico proved to be all the
offence the Mississauga Rebels would need as they downed the Waterloo
Wolves 2-0.
Jacob Hayhurst had the primary assists on both Rebel goals and Dalton Ewing posted the first shutout of the 2013 OHL Cup.
“We’re
a defensive-minded team,” said Rebels head coach Steve Ewing. “Our
goaltending has been our strength from and our defence plays a big role
in making sure they see pucks when they come through.”
The teams
combined for 13 power play opportunities, but only Mississauga’s
Christian Rajic was able to convert on the man-advantage.
Rebels Player of the Game – Dalton Ewing (SO)
Wolves Player of the Game – Lucas Ariss
Game Summary
(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)
KOTP Ep. 184 – The Final 15
6 hours ago
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