Nico (Toronto Patriots) and Alex (Oakville Blades) Armellin took to the crease at the same time during the final games of the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Governors’ Showcase
By Ron Valentine
Consider the odds: Twin brother goaltenders Nico (Toronto Patriots) and Alex (Oakville Blades) Armellin took to the crease at the same time on neighbouring ice pads during the final two games of the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Governors’ Showcase in Niagara Falls, ON Wednesday night.
The 18-year-olds from Barrie both recorded wins to close out the three-day Showcase, played in front of scouts from across the NHL, CHL, NCAA and U SPORTS at the Gale Centre. MilkUP, the Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s Gen Z lifestyle brand, returned as presenting sponsor of the Showcase.
The Patriots needed overtime to defeat Newmarket, 3-2, with Nico making 34 saves.
Alex made 33 stops in Oakville’s 4-1 win over Aurora.
Alex is in his second OJHL season, Nico, his first, after playing for the GOJHL’s St. Mary’s Lincolns last year.
Their two teams will meet Oct. 17 at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville.
“There’s always been a good, friendly rivalry,” Alex said after his team’s win. “I think Nico is a good fit with the Patriots and, of course I wish him all the best, except when we play them.”
OAKVILLE BLADES 4 AURORA TIGERS 1
Looking for their first win of the season the Blades did just that as they set back the Tigers 4-1 with Matthew Ross netting the winner and adding two assists. Ex-Soo Thunderbird Cooper Woron, the son of sportscaster Cory, scored his first OHJL goal.
TORONTO PATRIOTS 3 NEWMARKET HURRICANES 2
The wrap-up game would turn out to be a close affair that could not be solved in 60 minutes. The Patriots took a 2-1 lead into the third period on goals by Owen McGuckin and Colton Woods before Kristian Lamanna levelled it inside the last couple of minutes. Simon Wang had the other Newmarket goal. Hurricanes’ goalkeeper Finn Moffett, playing in his first game in the OJHL, turned back 38 Patriots’ shots over the 60 minutes. McGuckin’s second would get the Patriots the extra point in the 3-2 final.
Western teams were the victors in six of the eight games Wednesday, making the final tally 13-11 in favour of the West Conference teams.
The rest of the Day 3 results:
LINDSAY MUSKIES 3 NIAGARA FALLS CANUCKS 1
Two goals just over two minutes apart in Period 2 by Kaden Koutroulides keyed the Muskies to the 3-1 win over the host Niagara Falls Canucks. They were the first two in the OJHL for the Picton native. He also assisted on Lindsay’s third goal, from Nole Faulkner. The line of Koutroulides, Faulkner and Kai Williams accounted for all the points in the win. “My teammates set me up perfectly for the goals,” Kaden said while holding on to the souvenir puck. “And I’m really excited to get my first goal in my third game with the team.” For Niagara Falls it was also a first-time OJHL scorer in Jimmy Sutherland. With the win the Muskies go to 2-1 while the Canucks fall to 1-4 on the season.
WELLINGTON DUKES 4 MISSISSAUGA CHARGERS 3 OT
An Ethan Murray goal with 30 seconds left in regulation time tied things up at 3-3 forcing the overtime. The trend for first OJHL goals continued with Gavin Ramkissoon and Nathan Hiscock finding the net for the Chargers and Christian Armstrong doing the same for Wellington. Armstrong would not get the chance to add to his total after being ejected in the second period for fighting. It was a physical but fast contest which saw the Dukes go up 2-0 in the first four minutes. The overtime hero was sophomore defenceman Cole Ellis from Chapleau, keeping the Dukes’ undefeated streak going at three. Club captain Sacha Trudel pointed out the good mix of vets and younger players on the Dukes: “Armstrong’s goal got us going and then the veteran Zach Carrier followed up on that. Everyone is contributing on this team and Ellis’s hard work gave us the win. The Chargers are a tough team but we have proved that we can play any style.” For Chargers’ head coach Alex Bezerra it was a tough loss: “A mental mistake cost us in the end but I thought we did enough to win. We are learning from each game and at least we got the one point out of it against a very good team.”
“September is going to be a month of uncertainty and change for a lot of teams as we figure out how our roster going forward should look. We only have five returnees so we are looking to add a bit more experience if we can.”
BURLINGTON COUGARS 5 NORTH YORK RANGERS 1
Blueliner Milan Yakavenko, making his debut as a Cougar, scored the game-winning goal in Burlington’s 5-1 win over the Rangers. Born in the Ukraine, he is a graduate of the GTHL. Connor Hafner made 32 saves for his first OJHL victory. Hayden Bondy scored twice for the victors with Colin Ronalds tallying a goal and three points and blueliners Noah Caswell and Devon Arthurs each having two helpers. Associate coach Kirby Tokarski is not complaining about his Cougars’ start but noted that: “September is going to be a month of uncertainty and change for a lot of teams as we figure out how our roster going forward should look. We only have five returnees so we are looking to add a bit more experience if we can.”
KING REBELLION 7 PICKERING PANTHERS 1
The Rebellion really spread out the scoring in this one with 16 players putting up at least a point. Adam Smeeton had two goals and goalie Noah Mavin, who made a single appearance for Georgetown last season, made 20 saves for the win. The Rebellion fired 25 shots on the Panthers net in Period 1 and 57 in total on Pickering goalkeeper Anthony Sciere. With the two points, King moved to .500 for the season.
COLLINGWOOD BLUES 6 St. MICHAEL’S BUZZERS 2
Collingwood moved into a four-way tie for second spot with eight points in the crowded West standings. The 6-2 win was spearheaded by a pair of goals from defenceman Nathan Omeri who is pleased to be back in Collingwood: “I played in the 2022-23 Centennial Cup in Portage with the Blues after being called up from the Hamilton Kilty Bees. I spent some time with the Sarnia Sting but my goal this season is to help the Blues get back to the Cup. Personal things like goals don’t mean anything to me. We have a solid group this year with some strong older players that were brought in.” Keenan Hodgson, captain Will Hughes and Easton Andrews all had a goal and three points. Josh Denes tallied three assists.
“We are in Year 3 of a three-year game plan The goal this year is to get into the playoffs and we have a great group of young guys who can make this happen.”
CALEDON ADMIRALS 6 COBOURG COUGARS 3
This one featured two teams yet to register a win on the season going in, though the Admirals had earned three points from OT losses and a tie. Curtis Freeman scored the game-winner and followed it up with a shorthanded marker as the Admirals doubled the Cougars 6-3. Deacon King got the ball rolling with a goal for Caledon with a powerplay goal in the opening frame, his ninth point of the season. Admirals’ GM Ken Jeysman: “We are in Year 3 of a three-year game plan The goal this year is to get into the playoffs and we have a great group of young guys who can make this happen. It feels really good to get that first win and under coach Joe (head coach Washkurak) we can accomplish that goal.” King concurs: ” Players like me coming back have a lot to prove this year. Freeman agrees: “I’m getting some good chances and scoring but it’s been a total team effort and if we all keep this going we can be there.”
After taking Thursday off, the OJHL regular season schedule resumes on six fronts Friday night.
