SPIRIT SQUEEK OUT OT VICTORY IN OPENER

Press Release

The OJHL champion Stouffville Spirit opened the Dudley Hewitt Cup on Tuesday night against the host Thunder Bay North Stars at the historic Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The Spirit carry the OJHL banner into the tourney having won the past five tournaments, earning the right to represent Central Canada at the RBC Cup, National Junior ‘A’ Championship.

The “Spiderman” Jon Hall took his usual spot between the pipes for the Spirit, while Carter McEachern was in net at the other end of the ice. A somewhat tentative first period saw the North Stars come out hitting hard, attempting to get the offensively-gifted Spirit squad off their game early. The officials would dole out six minors during the opening frame and Stouffville would open the scoring with the man advantage as Christian Powers notched the power play goal with helpers to Drake Caggiula and the “Assist-Man” himself, Paul Geiger. Just under three minutes later Sam Dubinsky banged one home for Thunder Bay and the two clubs went to the break tied at one. Shots were 11-5 in favour of the Spirit during the first.

North Stars netminder Carter McEachern continued to be the story of the game throughout the second period as Stouffville peppered him with another 11 shots, 22 in total. Another penalty-filled period saw both teams with power play opportunities, but neither was able to capitalize and they headed to the third tied at one with the shots 22-11 in favour of the visitors.

Thunder Bay head coach and former NHLer Lonny Bohonos would have some inspirational words for his club during the intermission and the North Stars would play their best period of the game, outshooting the Spirit 10-9. However, both Hall and McEachern were once again the story, stopping everything that was thrown their direction. At the end of regulation, with the shots 31-21 for Stouffville, it was 1-1 and in shades of last year’s Dudley Hewitt Cup overtime-filled tourney, it was off to an extra frame for the second consecutive game.

Just under three minutes into the extra frame, Chris Porter picked up the puck inside his own blueline and after a couple of curls, broke through the neutral zone and fire home a shot from just inside the circle, clinching the 2-1 win for the Spirit. It was no surprise that the two netminders, Jon Hall for the Spirit and Carter McEachern for the North Stars, were named the Players-

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