THUNDER BAY – Sports – Stouffville Spirit player Chris Porter took a long rising shot that ended up high into the top right hand corner of the Thunder Bay North Star’s net at 2:48 into overtime. The goal gave the Stouffville Spirit a 2-1 win over North Stars Tuesday evening at the Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canadian Junior A Hockey Championship at Fort William Gardens.
The Spirit scored first with a goal by Christian Power on the power play midway through the opening period. The shot was sailing wide, but hit North Stars’ defender Tyler Osborne in the shoulder and fluttered into the open corner past a helpless Carter McEachern in the Thunder Bay net.
Osborne made amends for the unfortunate ricochet less than three minutes later as his blast from just inside the blueline was redirected by North Stars’ captain Sam Dubinsky to tie up the game.
The game turned into a tight-checking affair the rest of the way with North Star’s goalie McEachern and Stouffville netminder Jonathon Hall both taking turns making a serious of solid saves keeping the game tied at 1-1 through regulation play.
Heading into overtime one got the feeling it would either be a quick goal to win the game, or fans might be headed into a marathon session of hockey.
RBC player of the game honours went to McEachern of the North Stars and Stouffville’s Hall.
Demonstrating how close the teams are matched so far in the Dudley Hewitt Cup tournament, earlier on Tuesday, the tournament’s first game also required overtime to determine a winner as the Soo Thunderbirds of Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League edged the SIJHL champion Wisconsin Wilderness courtesy of Brett Campbell’s game-winner.
Round robin play continues Wednesday as Stouffville takes on Wisconsin at 2PM. followed by the North Stars and Thunderbirds at 7:30PM.
Editorial Comment: This is top notch fast exciting hockey. Tickets are very affordable. Show your support not only for the local hockey, and get out to at least one game. Your family will enjoy a night out.
For those in our community advocating for a new Event Centre. A sold out Fort William Gardens would send the message about how needed an event centre really is in our community.
Game Stats at Dudley Hewitt Stats
(with files from SIJHL Communications)
Photograph courtesy of James Mirabelli.