By Jim Mason/OJHL Communications
The Toronto Patriots are the only unbeaten team in the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s three weeks into the 2024-25 season.
The Patriots moved to 5-0-0-0 by defeating the Lindsay Muskies 4-1 during Day 2 of the 2024 Governors’ Showcase presented by MilkUP at the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls, ON Tuesday.
Robert Palermo, Marko Saroglou, Justin Spurrell and Brice Cooke scored for the Patriots.
In other action:
- The Milton Menace (6-1-0-0) left the Falls with a 2-0-0-0 record after handing the Trenton Golden Hawks (6-1-0-0) their first loss, a 5-1 decision Tuesday. Captain Graeme MacAuley led the Menace with a goal and an assist.
- The Stouffville Spirit (5-2-0-0) also won its second game of the Showcase Tuesday morning, a 2-1 nailbiter over the Buffalo Jr. Sabres (3-2-0-0). Danny Thomakos and Mason Dermastja scored. Stephen Toltl stopped 38 shots to earn the win.
- The Haliburton County Huskies improved to 5-3-0-0 with a 4-1 win over the Georgetown Raiders (2-2-1-0). Isaac Larmand, a 6-foot-5 forward from Sault Ste. Marie, ON, scored the first two goals of the game to lead the Huskies.
- Connor Prestwich scored twice to pace the Cobourg Cougars (2-3-2-0) to a 4-1 win over the King Rebellion (2-3-1-0).
- The Pickering Panthers (2-5-0-0) scored the final three goals of the third period to force overtime against the Mississauga Chargers (4-5-1-0). Connor Irwin won it for the Panthers at 5:50 of overtime with his first of the season.
- The host Niagara Falls Canucks (5-3-0-0) won their second Showcase game, 5-1 over the Markham Royals (1-4-0-0). Matthew Campanella’s goal at 8:05 of the first period proved to be the winner. Sebastian Monaco faced 52 shots in the Markham goal.
- The Leamington Flyers (7-0-1-0) got goals from Colton Smith and Mason Landry to defeat the Wellington Dukes (2-4-0-0) 2-1 in the final game of the day.
The three-day, 24-game event concludes Wednesday with eight games. The first game is the battle of OJHL Cougars with Burlington and Cobourg meeting at 10 a.m. The North York Rangers and King Rebellion close out the event with the final game of the day. It’s an 8 p.m. start.
