Pistons lose OT heartbreaker in cup opener

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This article was published 11/05/2023 (1218 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE — This wasn’t the way the Steinbach Pistons wanted to start the Centennial Cup.

On Thursday night, Collingwood’s Robert Strachan scored a power-play goal with 56.1 seconds remaining in the five-minute overtime period to lift the Blues to a 2-1 triumph over the MJHL champions at the national junior A hockey championship at Stride Place.

The Blues played the last 90 seconds of regulation on a 5-on-4 advantage and then most of OT with a 4-on-3 power play before Strachan potted the game-winner behind Pistons goaltender Dominik Wasik.

Steinbach defenceman Langley Kruggel was assessed a double minor for kneeing at 18:30 of the final frame yet Steinbach managed to kill off the final 90 seconds of the third period and the team began the five-minute overtime period with a 4-on-3 disadvantage.

The Pistons then killed off the remainder of Kruggel’s penalties but only moments after he emerged from the sin bin, Parker Jasper was sent to the penalty box for tripping to set the stage for Strachan’s heroics.

“We’ve had some overtime games this year and I wouldn’t say we’re used to it but that’s my first time scoring in overtime, so it’s a good feeling,” said Strachan, whose club played three overtime games to finish the Ontario Junior Hockey League final. “We were working hard and earning some calls.”

Wasik was excellent in overtime, finishing with 28 saves.

“I didn’t see it,” said Pistons GM and head coach Paul Dyck of the Jasper infraction. “I think somebody stepped on a stick and if it was a trip, I honestly couldn’t speak to it.”

Collingwood’s Mark McIntosh opened scoring 6:18 into the middle frame. Steinbach’s Ian Amsbaugh answered at the nine-minute mark and the teams started the third period tied 1-1.

“I know we were kind of disappointed not scoring on the first power play (in overtime) — I think we had a lot of chances and I think we rushed a couple things and the ice got a little bad towards the end there and but getting that getting blessed with that second power play definitely helped and I was just happy we put it home,” said Collingwood head coach Andrew Campoli.

The Pistons won’t have much time to lick their wounds. Steinbach takes on the host Portage Terriers in today’s marquee tournament matchup at 7:30 p.m.

“Well we have to (be ready), we have no choice,” said Dyck. “It’s a quick turnaround. We had our chances to win the hockey game and probably had chances to be ahead at that stage in the game…. We’ll have to reset really quickly here. All games are of utmost importance and tomorrow we’ve got to be focused on the task at hand (against Portage).”

Noah Pak, a Yale University commit, stopped 28 shots in the Collingwood net.

Today’s schedule also includes the tournament debut of the Quebec Junior League champion Terrebonne Cobras, who face the Central Canada Hockey League’s Ottawa Junior Senators at 11:30 a.m. Yarmouth and the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Timmins Rock meet at 3:30 p.m.

Bandits 7 Mariners 2

Alberta’s two-time defending Cup winners were out of the gate quickly, getting a pair of goals each from Elliot Dutil and Ethan Beyer on their way to a 5-2 lead after 40 minutes.

Nathan Kelly, on Yarmouth’s second shot of the game 15 minutes into the first period, and Michael Marquez replied with markers for the Maritime Hockey League representatives.

Aiden Fink, Hunter Wallace and Tyler Blocha also scored for Brooks, who outshot Yarmouth 44-12.

“I’d say it’s a pretty typical game for us,” said Oak Lake’s Wallace, a left-winger who scored one of Brooks’ two power-play markers. “We’re not the biggest team but we’re fast, we work hard, we get on top of players fast and try to finish them off. And that’s just kind of the style we play.”

Brooks’ pressure tactics didn’t give Yarmouth much room to operate on the counter attack.

“I think everyone’s image of us is as a soft, skilled team,” said Bandits defenceman Hughie Hooker, a Winnipegger. “But I think, especially throughout playoffs, we became a lot more physical. We knew that was going to be a big part of winning…

“I still think we can play better. We kind of slowed down for a little bit in the second period there and they got a couple of goals but I thought we were pretty solid.”

The Bandits, ranked No. 1 in Canada at the end of the regular season, don’t play again until a Saturday afternoon matchup with the Central Canada Hockey League’s Ottawa Junior Senators.

“I think it was in the back of our minds just to put a statement out that we’re here to win and hopefully other teams will look at the score today and they’re sweating a bit,” said Wallace.

North Stars 4 Fighting Walleye 1

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League champions got off to a quick start in the tournament with first-period goals from Steven Kesslering and Jackson Allan.

Tanner Gold and Colby Bear added markers for Battlefords, which got 23 saves from Josh Kotai.

Jeremy Dunmore scored the lone goal for Kam River, representing the Superior International Junior Hockey League. Eric Vanska stopped 36 shots.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca