By Ron Valentine : OJHL Featured Writer
The sea air in Summerside, Prince Edward Island seems to be agreeing with the Toronto Patriots who opened the Centennial Cup round-robin with an 8-3 victory over the NOJHL champion Greater Sudbury Cubs on Thursday. For their second game the Patriots took on the Saskatchewan Jr Hockey League’s Flin Flon Bombers who were coming off a 1-0 loss to the LHJAAAQ’s College Francais de Longueuil as they were unable to solve goaltender Mathis Lacroix-Goulet.
The Bombers made their way to the Centennial Cup by beating the Yorkton Terriers in four games to win their Canterra Seeds Cup final. In the quarter finals they topped the Estevan Bruins, also in four and in the semis they defeated the Weyburn Red Wings four games to three. In the regular season they ended in first place in the UPL Division with a 41-11-3-1 record, good for 86 points, tops in the 12-team League.
Three changes for the Patriots, defencemen Gabriel Schmidt and Antonio Bonavota drew into the lineup along with forward Owen McGuckin for their first Centennial Cup appearances. Seven ‘D’ were dressed for this one.As per normal in the net, Trey Caracciolo took his turn.
The Patriots again got off to as fast a start, as they did in game one versus the Cubs, finding the net five and a half minutes in and it was Cole Cooksey again getting things rolling finishing off a play with linemates Luciano Bruno and Tommy Karmiris. At 11:25 McGuckin was right on Bombers’ goalie Charlie Stitt’s doorstep, converting a left wing pass from fellow rookie Bodhi Ryan to make it 2-0 to the ‘home team’. In the dying seconds the advantage was increased to three goals as Hudson Cummins banked one in from close range and again the Patriots were firmly in the driver’s seat. The Bombers outshot Toronto 12-10 with Caracciolo strong in goal.
Luciano Bruno, just after escaping the penalty box, made it 4-0 Toronto just short of the six minute mark of period two as he tipped one home from right in front following pinpoint passes from Cooksey and Luke Howard. Following the goal the Bombers put Finn Werner into the net, he only made a single appearance in the SJHL playoffs. At 12:21 McGuckin scored his second of the contest as he took a perfect pass from Ryan on a two-on-one break. Toronto controlled the play for the most part in this period but the Bombers did get one back with 90 seconds left with Ryder Mucha redirecting a point shot from Cam Ward but the Patriots were quick to reply as Bruno took advantage of some lax Flin Flon defensive play to make it 6-1 but the scoring for the period was not finished yet as Hudson Cummins potted an unassisted marker. Toronto outshot the Bombers 16-6 to take a six-goal lead into the third.
Following all the scoring in the first two frames, the third saw the Bombers trying to build on whatever chances they had to give them some impetus for their next game on Monday against Sudbury. They did get one back courtesy Landon Alexander in the 7-2 final scoreline. Shots in the period were 14-9 in favour of the Bombers.
Bruno with two goals and an assist was named Player of the Game for the Pats.
With his goal and two assists in the game Cooksey now leads all scorers in the competition with eight points including four goals. The depth of the team has really come through with 16 players registering at least a point in the two games so far.
Ryan and McGuckin were in a celebratory mood after the game. “It’s been the experience of a lifetime for me playing at the Centennial Cup”, Bohdi said. “We have really been clicking on the ice and having fun at the same time, this is a great group, the best team I’ve ever been on.” Owen, who scored eight game winning goals in the regular season is loving the results and the Island: “It was great being able to get in and contribute, I’ve known and played with Bodhi since I was little so it was good that we were able to combine for a couple of goals.”
Goalie Caracciolo had a great view of the section: “It was my turn, everything is working out well for us. Nico (Armellin) are really dialed in and we are fortunate to have such a great team in front of us. The Bombers came at us hard early but as the game went on we just got better. Our coaches will keep us from any chance of over confidence for the next two games and that’s important.”
The Patriots next action comes on Monday night against the MHL champion Truro Bearcats.
