POST GAME STATS

LEE BOYADJIAN

KITCHENER – Phil Tomasino scored three times, including the game winner, in a 7-4 win for Team GTHL Blue over Team HEO, on Day 1 at the 2017 OHL Gold Cup.

Action began early, with a Brandon Coe goal for Team GTHL Blue. The forward was set up in front of the crease, but was being knocked down as he knocked in a rebound from a point shot. Team HEO would respond quickly though, working the puck low in the GTHL Blue zone. From behind the net, Ryan Richardson sent a perfect pass to the point, where Jack Quinn unleashed a shot.

GTHL Blue would retake the lead before the end of the first, on a 3-on-1 break. Cody Morgan threw it cross-ice to Nicholas Porco who beat HEO goaltender Luke Cavallin low for a 2-1 lead.

Tomasino would book-end a busy second period with a pair of goals, while Nick Chartard (Team HEO) and Dennis Golovatchev (Team GTHL Blue) also found the back of the net, making it 5-2 GTHL Blue after two.

In the third, HEO started a comeback attempt, carrying the play through the first half of the period, resulting in a two-on-two rush for Josh Shimizu and Curtis Fabbro. With both players staying out wide, Shimizu found a seam and sent a perfect pass to Fabbro who one-timed it past GTHL Blue goaltender Matthew Keeley.

Shimizu would later score on the powerplay, jamming in a lose point shot, to cut the GTHL Blue lead 5-4. Tomainso’s third of the game would give GTHL Blue some breathing room, before an empty net goal would seal things at 7-4.

Team HEO will play both Team HNO and Team OMHA White on Day 2, game times are 1:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. respectively. Team GTHL Blue finishes up preliminary round play against Team OMHA White, starting 11:15 a.m.

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