NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Monday, May 11, 2015
Thunderbirds fall to 0-2 at RBC Cup
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man. – A three-goal outburst before the midway point of the opening period helped propel the Melfort Mustangs (SJHL) to a 5-3 victory over the Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) Monday evening in Day 3 play at the RBC Cup Canadian Jr. A Championship at PCU Centre in Portage la Prairie, Man.
Adam Fauchoux staked the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League champion Mustangs to the lead 6:39 into the contest as he beat Sault Ste. Marie starter Brian Kment.
Just 16 seconds later Melfort struck again off the stick of Regan Wilton.
The Mustangs then put an early end to Kment’s night as Eric Young made it 3-0 with Mario Culina coming in to tend goal for the T-Birds after that.
Travis Mayan extended Melfort’s lead two minutes into the stanza as the SJHL title holder went up by four.
The Soo would eventually get on the board at 4:39 of the second as Eric Hillock teed one up for Owen Headrick, who blasted on past Mustangs netminder Richard Palmer.
Dexter Bricker countered that with the eventual game-winner, on a tap-in just under night minutes later as Melfort took a 5-1 cushion into the final frame.
The Thunderbirds attempted a comeback in the third getting a tally from Matt Caruso five minutes into the session.
Headrick wired home his second of the night with 7:19 remaining, in what turned out to be the final marker of the contest.
Eric Sinclair had a pair of assists to aid the Mustangs offensive cause.
Palmer made 16 saves to record the win helping his side imrpove to 1-1.
Culina stopped 20 of 22 in relief and was saddled with the loss in 51 and half minutes of work.
Kment gave up the three against on 10 shots.
With the defeat the T-Birds slip to 0-2 and return to game action Tuesday at 8 p.m. as they meet the host Portage Terriers (MJHL) (1-1) back at PCU Centre.
The unbeaten Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) (2-0) take on the Penticton Vees (BCHL) (1-1) in Tuesday’s opening contest, which gets underway at 3 p.m.
All RBC Cup round robin and semifinal games are available online via FASTHockey.com while the championship will be on TSN.
RBC Cup Canadian Jr. A Championship
PCU Centre – Portage la Prairie, Man.
Dates: May 9-17
Competing Teams
Host: Portage Terriers (MJHL)
Central: Soo Thunderbirds (Dudley-Hewitt Cup champion)
East: Carleton Place Canadians (Fred Page Cup champion)
West 1: Penticton Vees (Crescent Point Energy Cup champion)
West 2: Melfort Mustangs (Crescent Point Energy Cup finalist)
Schedule
Saturday, May 9
Portage 3 Penticton 2
Carleton Place 4 Soo 0
Sunday, May 10
Penticton 4 Melfort 0
Carleton Place 3 Portage 0
Monday, May 11
Melfort 5 Soo 3
Tuesday, May 12
Carleton Place vs. Penticton 3 p.m.
Soo vs. Portage 8 p.m.
Wednesday, May 13
Carleton Place vs. Melfort 8 p.m.
Thursday, May 14
Penticton vs. Soo 3 p.m.
Portage vs. Melfort 8 p.m.
Friday, May 17
CJHL Awards Banquet
Saturday, May 16
Semifinal 1: 3 p.m.
Semifinal 2: 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 17
Final: 8 p.m.
