2013 OHL Cup Day 1 Recap

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)