Ron Valentine: OJHL Featured Writer
The Toronto Patriots came into the Ray Twinney arena in Newmarket on Sunday night sporting an impressive record of 13 wins and 3 losses, 73 goals scored with just 35 against, and a powerplay success percentage of 30.9 in 16 postseason contests. The home side had a strong record of 12 wins, 4 defeats with 53 goals scored and 38 allowed in 16 games. It was game two of the Frank L. Buckland Cup Final with the winner of the series qualifying for the Centennial Cup in Summerside, Prince Edward Island with the host club plus representatives from nine other leagues across Canada.
Three changes for Toronto with Colton Woods coming in for Owen McGuckin up front, rookie Antonio Bonavota replacing Peter Koukouves on the blueline and Nico Armellin in net instead of Trey Caracciolo. The two goalies have been alternating regularly.
The Hurricanes were without forwards Nathan Phillips and Michael Pope, with Nicholas Muzzatti and Ben Maharaj coming in. Maharaj, 16 years old, appeared in 5 games for Newmarket in the regular season, it was his first postseason game. On defence Noah Gaudet-Barton replaced Colin Maund.
Perhaps a few late-arriving fans missed the game’s opening goal by Newmarket captain Joel Taylor, it took only 49 seconds, assisted by fellow defenceman Andrew Lanni and Marcello Giorgi. Late in the period, Tommy Karmiris, the OJHL’s leading playoff goal scorer, potted his 14th and it’s 1-1 after one. Nine shots on goal apiece.
The second session, which featured four goals. also had an early score from a defenceman, this time it was Liam Longo connecting for the home team just 42 seconds in. It was Liam’s first in the playoffs. Cole Cooksey made it 3-1 with his 13th of the playoffs, a powerplay goal, at the 11-minute mark before, with just over 17 minutes gone, Chase Yanni found the net for the Hurricanes. The Patriots reclaimed the 2-goal lead with blueliner Lucas Vacca scoring, unassisted, to make it a 4-2 lead for the Patriots after 40 minutes. Shots in period two were 13-8 in favour of Toronto.
In the third period the Hurricanes narrowed the gap with Yanni’s second of the game and 11th of the playoffs with his team enjoying the man advantage but it was as close as Newmarket would come on this night in the 4-3 final. The Patriots outshot them 10-9 and 32-26 overall.
In addition to their goals Vacca and Longo had an assist each for the winners. Also registering assists were Luciano Bruno, with two, giving him 31 postseason points, Simon Howard and Kyle Morey. For the Hurricanes, Joseph Macchione had two helpers and along with Lanni and Georgi, Connor and Haynes and Simon Wang had an assist each.
Game three in the series goes at the Westwood arena on Wednesday evening with a 7:15 faceoff.
