By Ron Valentine
The 10 participating teams from five leagues in quest of the Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge in Trenton were split into two divisions for the opening rounds.
Group A features OJHL (Oates), MHL (Eastlink South), CCHL (Robinson), NOJHL (East) and LHJAAAQ (St. Louis). Group B teams are NOJHL (West), OJHL (Hawerchuk), CCHL (Yzerman), MHL (Eastlink North) and LHJAAAQ (Perron).
The Ontario Junior Hockey League went with co-head coaches for both entries: Collingwood’s Andrew Campoli and Haliburton’s Ryan Ramsay for Team Oates and Vince Bellissimo (Toronto Patriots) and Shawn Snider of the Georgetown Raiders for the Hawerchuks.
Other bench bosses include Pat Malloy of the Smiths Falls Bears for CCHL Robinson and Ian MacInnis (GM of the Cornwall Colts) for CCHL Yzerman; Peter Goulet, former head coach of Kingston and Trenton in the OJHL, of the Powassan VooDoos for the NOJHL East and Kyle Brick of the Blind River Beavers leading the NOJHL West.
From the MHL, Simon Olivier of Edmundston Blizzard leads the North and Laurie Barron, head coach of the Yarmouth Mariners for 15 seasons, heads up the South. From Quebec, Robert Dubuc, 18 years as GM/head coach of the Terrebonne Cobras, leads Team Perron and former Hamilton Bulldog Jonathan Ferland from Condors du Cegep-Beauce-Appalaches, is the head coach of Team St. Louis.
The Blues of Collingwood have eight players named to the 40-player group. The St. Michael’s Buzzers have four. Hometown heroes from the Golden Hawks, blueliner Dillon Stiles and forwards Corbin Roach and Charlie Key are in the Hawerchuk squad. The Markham Royals, Milton Menace and Toronto Patriots also have three representatives.
OPENING DAY
Monday had eight games on tap, opening with OJHL Oates taking on the MHL’s South in the modified two-period format. Jonathan Morello (St. Michael’s) scored two powerplay goals but it would not be enough as the Maritimers prevailed 5-2. Former Lindsay Muskie Yacine Chemrouk, now with the Truro Bearcats, was the winning goalie saving 26 shots. Pictou County Crusher Ben Mercer bookended the MHL scoring, his second into the empty net. Head coach Barron commented on his team’s victory: “I tip my cap to the kids’ gritty win. We had very good goaltending and we scored by committee. We had 20 guys all pulling the rope and I think we gained a little respect, but there’s still lots of work to be done.” It was not the birthday present Oates’ coach Campoli was looking for.
In Game 2, OJHL Hawerchuk took on the NOJHL West. One change in the Hawerchuk lineup with Trenton’s Charlie Key replacing Georgetown’s Kristian Lamanna. Back-to-back shorthanded tallies from Dylan Edwards (Patriots) and Key helped the OJHL squad take a 3-2 lead after one period. A late second period powerplay marker by Luc Malkhassian would be the winner in the 5-3 final.
Collingwood captain Dylan Hudon, who had two assists in the contest: “It was a little weird watching my Blues’ teammates in the first game (seven were dressed for the Oates) and we had a slow start in our contest, but we finished the game strong and we are looking to build off that in our second game tonight.”
Blueliner and captain of the Patriots James Johnson, who assisted on his team’s opening goal: “NOJHL West gave us a tough battle. There’s a lot of talent on our team and at this tournament everyone is a top player. The chemistry is starting to build and I think we can get better as we go on. The event so far has been phenomenal, we are treated professionally and have everything we could ask for. There are so many people involved in making this a special event and I can’t thank them enough for allowing myself and all the other players here to have this opportunity.”
Game 3 featured the NOJHL East and CCHL Robinson. This one would not be decided in regulation and it was left to Carleton Place assistant captain and Clarkson commit Caton Ryan to seal the deal in the shootout. Final 2-1 Robinson with Patrick Boivin of the Timmins Rock stopping 25 and Kevin Jones from the Pembroke Lumber Kings saving 23 shots. Blueliner Alex Case of the Powassan VooDoos had the NOJHL’s goal. He formerly suited up for the OJHL’s Aurora Tigers and Wellington Dukes.
Ryan Leonard, head coach in Renfrew, who is assistant head coach for the Robinson’s at the Challenge noted: “We found a way to win. It was a short turnaround as three-quarters of our players played yesterday and we made the trip down early this morning in time for the game but as it went on the guys started to gel. The NOJHL players always come to this event ready to play and they gave a gutsy effort. We’re looking forward to the rest of this well-organized event.”
Next up, the CCHL Yzerman and the MHL North, and this game would take the same route except it was 2-2 at the end of regulation. Yzerman’s Anthony Hall of the Rockland Nationals had the only goal in the one-on-one for the 3-2 win. Miramichi Timberwolves’ Will Allen forced the shootout with a powerplay goal in the second period.
Yzerman GM Marty Abrams, GM/head coach of the Navan Grads: “It was good to get off to a strong start today. The game was an excellent one with great goaltending at both ends (16-year-old Jaeden Nelson from Navan and Nick Sheehan of the Edmundston Blizzard) and we were fortunate to take it in the shootout.”
The OJHL Oates got back into action in Game 5, this time their opposition was LHJAAAQ’s St. Louis and the Quebec reps got off to a fast start with three unanswered goals in the first period. Marcus Lougheed (Collingwood) and Patrick Saini (Haliburton) would narrow that advantage to a goal in the second session but St. Louis scored two late for the 5-3 victory. Longueuil’s Olivier Denis’ powerplay goal was the game winner. Olivier’s father, goalie Marc, played in the NHL for Colorado, Columbus, Tampa Bay and Montreal.
Coach Ferland on the win: “The players were ready to play at puck drop. We were able to establish our forecheck early and create a lot of shooting opportunities and scoring chances. Taking the lead by three goals was important to give confidence to our team for the game and the rest of the tournament.”
Marcus was happy to score but: “We played two very good teams and the games did not go in our favour. It has been a great experience so far and it’s been fun to meet and play against guys in other leagues.” Patrick echoed Marcus’ comments and added: “These opportunities don’t come around all the time so you have to enjoy them when you are there. The competition here is at such a high level, we are hoping to get a big ‘W’ tomorrow!”
In Game 6, NOJHL West were looking to get on the winning side of the ledger against LHJAAAQ’s Perron squad but a first-period goal by veteran Mathis Cloutier of Saint-Jerome Pantheres, who played for three seasons in the QMJHL, got the Quebec team off on the right foot. Montreal Phoenix’s Tristan Sgrosso made it 2-0 in the second. Terrebonne’s Gabriel Robert, formerly with the Rimouski Oceanic, was just under three minutes away from a shutout when Soo native Jake Kovacs found the net for the NOJHLers. He has already tallied 20 goals this season for the Blind River Beavers after short stints with the Blues and Golden Hawks. Sgrosso notched the empty-netter for the 3-1 final.
CCHL Robinson and MHL South, winners of their opening games, clashed in Game 7 and the expected close contest materialized with the Robinson’s ending on the good side of the 3-2 final count. Uxbridge native Andrew Morton posted the game winner. Pictou Crusher Nick Mahar, captain of the Wolves of Renfrew, had both goals for the Maritimers. Trevor Faucher (Smiths Falls Bears) scored a shorthanded goal for the winners while Aleksy Bandu of the Hawkesbury Hawks had the other goal.
To round out the proceedings it was OJHL Hawerchuk and CCHL Yzerman, both winners earlier. The line of Dylan Edwards of the Patriots with Andy Reist and Trevor Hoskin of the Cobourg Cougars put the Hawerchuks up 2-0 after one with ex-Erie Otter Edwards scoring both goals. Corbin Roach added a late powerplay marker for the 3-0 win. Markham Royals’ Chris Quizi made 20 saves for the shutout.
Patriots GM Blake Ricci is not surprised: “Dylan is having deserved success at the ECC. He is definitely elevating his game right now.”
He leads all players at the tournament with four points. In his season to date in Toronto, he has 22 points in just 13 games.
Tuesday’s schedule kicks at 9 a.m. Wednesday’s slate includes the playoff games and the championship final.
Follow Ron Valentine on X at @ronandlynda
