Way back when I was involved with the operation of the IJHL Abbie Carricato was the coach of the Soo Thunderbirds and now there is another Carricato behind the bench, Pat, as the Sault Ste. Marie Juniors attempt to progress to the Royal Bank Cup next month. They face a tough task in doing so, however, as they lost a close one this afternoon, two goals to nil, to the Fort William North Stars from the Superior International Junior Hockey League. Blueliner Randall Hanlan scored on the powerplay for the only goal of the first two periods thirteen minutes into the second. Ryan Magill scored the insurance marker three minutes from the end. The North Stars won 39 of their 50 regular season games before getting by the host Schreiber Diesels and the Thunder Bay Bearcats in the playoffs to reach the Cup. Their regular season scoring leader, Trevor Gamache, who won the race by a 28 point margin, was held pointless by the T-Birds.
Goalie Patrick Sullivan, who played for the Hamilton Red Wings and Stoney Creek Warriors in 2007-2008, staved off just twenty Thunderbirds' shots for the shutout. The North Stars peppered Ryan Dube with 41 shots.
Tonight the Voyageurs play their first game against the host Diesels who finished fourth in the regular season out of six teams and ended up 27 points adrift of the first-place North Stars.
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
A stroll in the park for the Voyageurs as they were all over Schreiber in the second game in the Dudley Hewitt Cup. Michael Farrell collected the hat trick in the first period, his last two coming less than a minute apart. It was 4-0 Kingston at the end of the first and 6-0 before the six minute mark of the second with Mitch Latchford assisting on the first five Vees goals. With two periods in the books it was 9-0 Kingston with Brock Higgs having picked up two goals and four points. There was no scoring in the third..final Kingston 9-0. As well as Farrell and Higgs the other Vees scorers were Jeff Blackburn, James Cameron, Craig Laliberte and Dustin Walsh. Despite the one-sided score the Diesels actually outshot the visitors 18-16 in the second frame and 37-34 overall! Shawn Sirman had the shutout.
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
A little different start for the Vees on Wednesday afternoon against Fort William as they only mustered five shots in a scoreless first period. There was no scoring in the second either but Joel Langevin gave the North Stars the lead at the thirteen minute mark of the third and that would be it for the scoring. The second straight shutout for Fort William goalie Patrick Sullivan. Quite a turnaround for the Vees who blasted nine past the Diesels in two periods last night. The result keeps the North Stars unbeaten and leaves Kingston at a win and a loss.
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
Blitzed for nine goals last night against the Voyageurs Schreiber's goalie Josh Baker had a much easier outing against the Soo Thunderbirds as he stopped 31 shots and the Cup host team won 2-0. Aaron Ross and Cole McKnight put the Diesels up 2-0 before the game was five minutes old and that was the scoring. This one turned ugly near the end. That's four shutouts in four games played!
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
Game five at the Dudley and shutout number five and number two for the Vees Shawn Sirman as they beat the Soo Thunderbirds 3-0. No goals at all at the tournament for the Soo team. Jeff Blackburn, Mike Farrell and Craig Laliberte got the Voyageurs markers. Kingston is now 2 and 1 and the Thunderbirds go home.
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
In the evening game the previously unbeaten Fort William North Stars lost to the host team Diesels 5-2. Aaron Ross, Kevin Clark, Dimitri Panagoitou, Kyle Lapenski and Jared Saunders scored for the winners who never trailed in the game. Cale Brown and Mitch Forbes had the Stars' markers. Kingston now goes to the final while the North Stars and Diesels fight it out in the semi-final.
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
The Fort William North Stars will take on the Kingston Voyageurs tomorrow night for the right to advance to the Royal Bank Cup. When the two teams met in game three of the Cup the stars came out on top 1-0. The regular season SIJHL champions defeated the Schreiber Diesels 4-3 Friday night. Mitch Forbes' second goal of the Cup games, unassisted at the midpoint of the third period, proved to be the game winner.
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
Congratulations to the Voyageurs- winners over the North Stars in the final game by a 4-1 count. Scoring for the Vees were Adam McAllister, Jarrett Burton, Jeff Blackburn and Michael Farrell. Mike MacDonald had the opening goal of the game for Fort William.
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
