NEWS

Maxime Fortin (left) of the Thunder Bay North Stars battles for position in front of the net with Mason Reeves of the Oakville Blades during the Blades 9-4 win at the Dudley-Hewitt Cup at the Tim Hortons Events Centre in Cochrane, Thursday. (Photo by Tim Bates / OJHL Images)

By Ron Valentine

In the afternoon contest at the Dudley-Hewitt Cup, it was Oakville (2-0) and Thunder Bay (0-2) and, in the last game of the round-robin round, Hearst and the hosts, Cochrane, both 1-1, had their set-to in the evening.

As a result of the first four games played, the Blades have a spot in the final on Saturday, with Cochrane and Hearst battling it out in the semifinal and the North Stars heading home after three games.

Despite there being nothing on the line this afternoon, Blades' Head Coach Mike Tarantino told me prior to the game against the North Stars: “We are approaching the game like any other one. We've made a few changes and I believe (Garrett) Pyke will be available as we are abiding by Hockey Canada rules.” Pyke was assessed a major penalty Wednesday.

When I asked the coach about whether he knew if the four goals his team scored Wednesday in the third period against Cochrane, in a span of two minutes and nine seconds constituted a Dudley-Hewitt Cup record he said: "Not sure if it is a record but I would have to guess that it is. The focus now, though, is to get through today's game and then rest up for the biggest game of the year Saturday night.” 

The Blades rested Kyle Lewis, Garrett Pyke, Jack Ricketts, Alton McDermott, Peyton Reeves, Callum Jones and Kyle Potts and still proved too much for the Stars winning 9-4. Chris Elliot made a rare start in goal and blueliners Nathan Ribau, Cameron Hatziioannou and Hamilton Kilty captain and top lacrosse player Tanner Brennecke drew in along with another Hamiton affiliate, Mason Reeves.

Oakville built up a 5-0 advantage after 20 minutes and put it on cruise control with the teams tying the second and third periods 2-2.

For the Blades, Tanner McEachern, Spencer Kersten and Harrison Israels had two goals each with singles going to Josh Nixon, Ryan Nicholson and Ribau. Three of their opening-period goals came on the powerplay. They would add another by that route in the second and also got one shorthanded (McEachern). Ryan O'Hara and Hatziioannou (who was named Blades' player of the game) tallied three assists each. For the Stars, Kyle Auger had a pair of goals with one each to Jayden Mrakic and Keighan Gerrie.

The Blades scored 19 goals in the three round-robin games while allowing eight. They have put their best feet forward so far, now one game separates them from a date at the National Jr. A Championship in Brooks, Alberta, May 11-19.

. The Brooks Bandits were rated No. 1 in the regular season CJHL rankings. Oakville ended third behind the Thunder Bay North Stars. 

Coach Tarantino after the game: “It was good to get those guys in. They've been great teammates and who to dress in games is the toughest staff decision because all of our guys can help us.”

Kersten, who led all players at the Cup with seven points, echoed the bench boss: “It definitely shows the depth we have as a team as players that don't get lots of ice time are still very good. I don't personally have a preference as to which team we play ­– they both have similar styles. I think Hearst is well-structured and Cochrane are relentless on the puck, so it will be a battle regardless which one we play.”

Former NOJHLer Harrison Israels agreed: "We're pretty pumped about the game. Our whole team stepped up tonight, especially the guys who have not seen a lot of action in the playoffs  played unreal today. Definitely a confidence booster for them and a tribute to the depth of our team." Goalie Will Barber noted: “My view from the bench was pretty good! We got into the game right from the start. Throughout the game we had all different guys stepping up, we wanted to go into Saturday on a high note and we did just that, we want to bring the Dudley back to the OJHL.”

Joining Brooks will be the Prince George Spruce Kings, BCHL champs; the winners of the Avanet Cup (either North Battlefords or the Portage Terriers); the Dudley winner and the Fred Page Cup champions- from the host Amherst Ramblers (Maritimes), the Ottawa Jr. Senators (CCHL) and the Princeville Titans (Quebec). The Yarmouth Mariners have been eliminated.

***

In the evening event, the Lumberjacks gave Tomi Gagnon his first taste of post-season play as he replaced Nic Tallarico in net. An end-to-end affair between the two NOJHL clubs. 

Dawson Waddell got the Lumberjacks ahead in the first. Ethan Emanuel's powerplay marker tied the game but Jake Desando restored Hearst's lead, also with the man-advantage, his third of the Cup. It would be tied again before the end of the first with Austin Whelan getting his first goal of the tournament.

Defenceman Justin Miron got Hearst one up again almost halfway through the second period but the hosts were in no mood to be denied and Jacob Stos made it 3-3 less than three minutes later. Stos from Lively (a suburb of Sudbury) played in the GOJHL with the Sarnia Legionnaires and the Niagara Falls Canucks as well as the OHL's Sarnia Sting.

The yo-yo contest continued into the third frame with the 'Jacks getting an early one from blueliner Austin Heidt, ironically a member of the Crunch in 2017-18. Sixty minutes would prove to be not enough to decide the winner, though, as Zach Hayes got his third of the tournament with a powerplay marker. 4-4 and into OT, free hockey for the 757 in attendance, no complaints there! Jonas Leas was the hero of the hour at 6:35 netting his third also and giving the Crunch the 5-4 win in a game where, up to that goal, had never had the lead in the game.

Friday the same two teams face off against each other again for a spot against the Blades for the Cup and another close contest should be expected.

The second and third-place teams play in Friday night’s semifinal. The first-place finisher receives a bye into Saturday night’s championship game.

In the OJHL playoffs, the Blades went 16-3, ousting Brampton, Buffalo, Markham and, in the league finals, the defending OJHL and Dudley-Hewitt champion Wellington. 

The Blades finished first in the West Division and tops in the League overall with 44 wins in 54 games. They were ranked third in the final country-wide rankings. Their 94 points was a team record.

For the tournament website click here

All Blades games at the Dudley-Hewitt are being broadcast on Oakville Blades Radio. Listen at oakvilleblades.ca