Hometown Hockey co-host Tara Slone joined local dignitaries for the ceremonial faceoff before the Trenton-Cobourg OJHL game in Cobourg Saturday night. More than 1,400 people attended during the Rogers TV program’s weekend visit to the community. (Photo by Amy Deroche / OJHL Images)

BY RON VALENTINE

With seven weeks remaining in the 2019-20 Ontario Junior Hockey League regular season, all four divisional races rage on:

• In the West, both Oakville and Burlington went 2-for-2 this week, with the Blades holding a four-point lead. Both clubs have played 39 games.

• In the North, the battle heats up with Stouffville getting five of a possible six points this week. Pickering won all three games and moved into a second-place tie with Collingwood, four points back of Stouffville. Since Nov. 27, Pickering, which has played two games fewer than Stouffville, has gone 11-1-1.

• Trenton and Wellington continue to jostle for the top spot in the East with the 'Hawks leading by a singleton. Two victories this week for the Dukes while the Golden Hawks got three points from three games.

• In the South, the Toronto Patriots got back in the win column but still trail the Toronto Junior Canadiens, who won both their games, by four points.

MONDAY - The final four games of 2019 started with the AURORA TIGERS visiting the COBOURG COUGARS and the East Division club continued its strong run of late with a 5-2 decision in front of almost 600 fans. Veteran forward Jason Stachelbeck netted the winner midway through the game. He also added two assists. A strong comeback by the visitors but nothing to show for it pointswise. Jason Gilbert had a shorthanded goal, the Cougars 11th. of the season. Three assists to T.J. Koufis, who has 18 points in his last 12 games.

TUESDAY (New Years' Eve) - Three matinee games on the schedule starting with the BUFFALO JUNIOR SABRES, 17 points in their last 10 games, hosting the BRAMPTON ADMIRALS. The game featured the 25th. goal of the season from the Sabres' Matteo Costantini and the club's 20th. victory as they won the game 6-3. Tyler McNeil had the game winner. Christos Rodis had his 24th. of the season for Brampton. Both Costantini and Rodis will be playing for Team East at the national Top Prospects game on Jan. 14 in Hamilton. The Sabres' victory was their 13th at home and they solidified their hold on third place in the West. 

In Port Credit, the MISSISSAUGA CHARGERS had the St. MICHAEL'S BUZZERS in for an all-South Division meeting and they took a quick lead on Matthew Sop's 18th of the campaign but with six seconds left in the first frame Ian Devlin knotted the score. The clubs would share goals in the second also courtesy Jonah Alexander for the visitors and Matteo Pecchia. No. 16 for both players. Unanswered goals by Bryce Sutherland and Brad Somers gave the Buzzers the two points in the 4-2 win – always valuable in a divisional contest.

The North Division leaders, the STOUFFVILLE SPIRIT, hosted the TORONTO PATRIOTS for their final home game of the year and they won emphatically 7-2 extending the Patriots, hard pressed by injuries, losing streak to four games. Ex-Pat Grant Turner broke a 2-2 tie with eight minutes gone in Period 2 and that opened the scoring floodgates for the Spirit and they would lead by four after 40 minutes. Rookie Luke Strickland had goals No. 20 and 21, his second was the only one scored in Period 3. Anthony Stavrou had two assists, his first points since rejoining the club from U.S. college. Three points of daylight now atop the North for the Spirit over the Collingwood Colts. Thirty saves for 'keeper Damon Beaver. The second-year goalie on his style and success: "My style is just to go out there and play my game. I don't like to over-complicate anything but I like to be aggressive on the puck and let my will and confidence hopefully lead to success."

THURSDAY - The Chargers kept their push for a playoff spot alive by handing the Patriots their fourth successive loss in a 6-4 victory at the Westwood with a four-goal outburst in the final frame. Blueliner Anthony Messina doubled his scoring output for the season with two goals and for the second time in a row Josh Bifolchi had the game winner. The Chargers had a chance to go ahead at the game's 27 second mark but Nick Cordeiro could not score on a penalty shot, he did get one late, though, with the Patriots' keeper on the bench. Captain Marcelo Pericao had two goals for the home side. Acknowledging the 'bump in the road' for the Patriots he said: "It's tough but we will get through it." Mississauga's leading pointscorer Matteo Pecchia (on 42 points): "It was a great way to start of the New Year against a highly-ranked rival. It was one game where I can say with confidence that we won as a team with huge contributions for all lines with ‘Biff’ getting the winner. If the season ended today, we would have a crossover game and I believe we would only move on from there!"

FRIDAY - The GEORGETOWN RAIDERS renewed their West Division rivalry at Sixteen Mile, facing off against the division-leading OAKVILLE BLADES where Ryan O'Hara led the home team to a 3-0 win backstopped by Will Barber's 35- save performance. Rookie Grayson Arnott got things rolling for the Blades on the powerplay with seventeen seconds left in the first period. It was Barber's third shutout of the campaign. Will on the season so far: for him: "I'd say I have a calm demeanour on the ice and I like to pay the puck as much as possible to help out my defencemen. I feel confident with the team right now" 

The next divisional battle was in the East with the WELLINGTON DUKES hosting the WHITBY FURY and Frank Vitucci netted his 24th of the season to help the Dukes secure the 5-2 victory. Evan Miller had two goals for the winners and rookie Oliver Tarr scored both of the Fury markers. Matthew Dunsmoor saved 30 for the win. Matt: "I model myself a little after a goalie perhaps not too many are familiar with, Jusse Saros of the Predators. Not being the biggest guy, I have to rely on my athleticism and instincts. Matt Keeley and I make a great combination and we really support each other." Dunsmoor has 16 wins this season, Keeley 12.

Now up to the North where the Tigers were at the PICKERING PANTHERS, who were playing their fourth straight home contest. The second shutout of the night was posted by Brendan Bonello, his third in his tenth game as a Panther. At the other end, Andrew Barwinski made 37 stops with the second Pickering marker going into the empty net off the stick of Rocco Andreacchi with just eight seconds left. Kevin Stiles gave the Panthers the only goal they needed just past eight minutes into the second period. Final: 2-0 Pickering.

In another Northern meeting, the Spirit were the guests of the MARKHAM ROYALS and this one would take a second session overtime marker on the powerplay from Stouffville resident Tyler Davis for the Royals to eke out a 5-4 win. Stouffville came back three times to tie the game with Connor May's third period marker sending the game into extra time. The Spirit never had the lead in this game but fought back to tie it up three times. Markham forward Matthew Perciballi had a goal and two helpers.

Over to the West again with the Junior Sabres paying a visit to the BURLINGTON COUGARS and two goals from Matteo Costantini, his 26th and 27th of the season to tie him for the league lead with the Dukes' Jake Gagnon were not quite enough as an overtime goal on a 2 on 1 from Kory Silverio gave the home team the 3-2 win. The first Cougar goal after a scoreless opening period came from affiliate Josh Ziliotto from the Hill Academy, playing his first OJHL game. Cougars captain Matt Hobbs, who was serving the first of a three-game suspension for a difference of opinion with the Buzzers' Ben Lawrick at the end of their game last week: "We were just happy to get the two points as we were not at our best. We missed (Harrison) Cottam and (Richard) Coulson but we want them 100-per-cent healthy when they get back. The winner was a great pass from (Matt) Giannini and a nice finish from Silverio."

The Colts had the Admirals in town and got to within two points of North-leading Stouffville by doubling Brampton 4-2. Tyler Ignazzitto scored the winner. A good night for Matthew Zebedee with a goal and two assists. Newmarket native Paul O'Doherty had the game's only powerplay goal and added an assist. A crowd of just shy of 1,000 for this game as the fan support in Collingwood continues to be very strong as the Colts continue to stay near the top of the North standings.

In a meeting of the top teams in the East and South, the TRENTON GOLDEN HAWKS hosted the TORONTO JUNIOR CANADIENS and the expected close contest came to pass. Rizvan Mansurov gave the visitors the lead in the first and Griffen Fox, with his 18th, tied the game with the clock ticking down in the second period. A powerplay goal by Matthew O'Brien late in the third put the JC's ahead but it took Trenton just 26 seconds to get that one back courtesy Adam Kim. A minute into the OT Connor Lepage's 15th gave the Canadiens the extra point and the 3-2 win which gave them a four-point lead in the South while the Golden Hawks' lead over the Dukes in the East fell to just a point. 

SATURDAY - Nine games on the card beginning with a rematch of the Panthers/Tigers meeting of Friday in Pickering again for a matinee and the Panthers would make relatively short work of this one in the final 6-1 scoreline as they finished with a flourish scoring four times in the third period. Eli Pilosof, in his second full season in Pickering, had two goals and three points and Brendan Bonello, who spent three-plus years in the Ontario Hockey League with Saginaw and Kingston, backstopped the club again saving 34 Aurora sots and reducing his already low GAA to 1.16. The former Toronto Jr. Canadien, who describes himself as a 'hybrid' goalie: "Obviously, my OHL experience stood me in good stead coming to Pickering. But I have to give the credit to my teammates who have made it easy for me. And when they needed bailing out I have been able to do it most of the time." Victory 11 at home this campaign for the Panthers, winners of four in a row.

The much-improved Cougars of Cobourg had the Golden Hawks as opponents for Rogers Hometown Hockey weekend and 1,450 fans packed the D'Arcy Street arena. The visitors jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held on for the 5-4 win. Dalton Bancroft's second goal of the game was the decider and Michael Olszewski had two for the Cougars, both shorthanded, and only two and a half minutes apart at the end of the second and start of the third. The setback ended Cobourg's five game win streak. The former captain of the Lindsay Muskies, Noah Vandervinne, played his first game in a Cougar uniform. GM Adam Yahn: "Noah has been on our radar for a long time. He is a good all-around player who skates well, isn't afraid to be physical and is a leader. And we heard great things about him in the dressing room." Associate Coach David Demarinis concurred: "I coached him four years ago in Pickering – a smart two-way player." 

Following their trip to Burlington, the Junior Sabres were in Oakville and Matteo Costantini took the lead in league scoring with Goal No. 28 just 15 seconds into the second period but for the second straight night the Sabres would lose in extra time. Harrison Israels, with his second of the game and 23rd of the season, got the winner in the second overtime session. His first goal of the contest was a shorthanded one. That's 69 points, including 23 goals, in 36 games for the league's leading pointgetter. Make that seven wins in a row now for the Blades.

An eagerly awaited match for the Buzzers as they made the short journey to take on the Patriots but the home side bounced back big time to end their losing run with a 7-2 victory. Cole Burtch and Ryan Mansfield each had a pair of goals and in net Mario Peccia recorded his 21st 'W' of the campaign. St. Mike's Jonah Alexander and the Pats' Andrew Horsley (assisted by Peccia) both had shorthanded goals. In the last 30 seconds, the Buzzers' Kobe Desmond missed on a penalty shot. 

The Dukes of Wellington and the LINDSAY MUSKIES faced off at the Lehigh arena and the host Dukes triumphed 4-2. Brodie McDougall's third period score, his second as a Duke and seventh overall was the game winner. Justin Paul had his second goal since coming to Wellington from Georgetown and it was his fourteenth for the season. Jacob Dupuis tied the game for the Muskies at 2-2 only 34 seconds into the third but McDougall's goal and an insurance marker from Daniel Panetta won the day for the Dukes who took their fifth win in a row,

The cream of the North, the Colts and the Spirit, met in Collingwood and Stouffville would forge four points ahead with the 4-2 win. Barrie resident Noah Featherstonhaugh-Gowe saved 32 Collingwood shots. Anthony Lamanna's fourth of the season would be the winner while Luke Strickland netted No. 23. Anthony on the goal: "I was fortunate enough to put in the third one, which turned out to be the winner. A hard-fought bounce-back game for us. After I passed to one of my linemates, that sent him in on a breakaway, the puck happened to bounce out in front after and, as I was following up on the play, I was able to put it home."

A battle of the B's with the BRANTFORD 99ers and Brampton in a staredown at the Memorial arena. Five different players scored in the 5-1 away win. Call-up Dylan Roobroeck's first OJHL goal halfway through period one would be the winner and Kyle Bollers got his 25th. of the season while Eric DeDobbelaer had a goal and three points. The 99ers remained in fifth in the West, one point behind Georgetown while the path continued to be rough for the Admirals.

The aforementioned Raiders took on the MILTON MENACE at the Alcott and they would come up with a 6-3 doubling of the visitors. Nolan Dann had the hat trick for the winners to bring the rookie up to 16 and Nathan Torchia, who picked up two assists in the game, stopped 38 shots. Captain Jordan Stock was in on all the Menace scores with two goals and an assist while Holden Rogers had a goal and three points.

Wrapping up the Saturday card were the Chargers and the NORTH YORK RANGERS. This game would also be decided by a 6-3 count with the visitors on the right end. Micheal Pereira led the way with two goals with Cole O'Hara and captain Tyler Flack each tallying a goal and three points and Nathan Kellenberger picking up three assists. Woodbridge native Thomas Lonsdale, called up from the GOJHL's Thorold Blackhawks by the Chargers, scored his first OJHL goal.

SUNDAY - Derek McVey was the man of the afternoon for the Burlington Cougars in their 6-3 win in Markham. He opened the game's scoring in the second period with a powerplay goal, got his club even at 2-2 with only 23 seconds left in that frame and got his hat trick early in the third, shorthanded. The Cougars got four in the third to put this one away. Brendan Rylott had the game winner. The Royals scored twice within 13 seconds with goals from Matthew Perciballi and Mathieu Halle to take a 2-1 lead. With the win, the Cougars narrowed Oakville's lead to four points in the West. Derek on his goals: “The first one was a tap in, which (Matt) Giannini created beautifully. The second one was as a result of a nice cross-crease pass from (Kory) Silverio and I made a fake to my backhand and roofed it and the third was shorthanded rush as I just tried to get the puck to the net and it worked out for me."

Host North York did what they had to do by defeating the Muskies in the matinee at the Carnegie in a 4-1 final as the Rangers moved to within three points of the third-place Buzzers in the South. Eli Shiller stopped 25 shots for the victory. Playing his first OJHL game, Luca Rea scored a goal and added an assist. Also scoring his first for the Rangers was Jackson Edwards. Atrem Guryev got Lindsay to within one in the second period with his second of the season. 

C.J.Clarke, acquired this week from the Milton Menace, made a quick impact for the Junior Canadiens scoring his first goal in his second game (he had an assist in his first Friday night against Trenton) and Russian native Rizvan Mansurov scored twice in the third period as the J.C's bested the Buzzers 5-2 on the Pond to take a four-point lead in the South. Tanner Sheppard saved 26 and also picked up an assist. Nine wins in their last ten for the South Division leaders who had a strong final frame scoring three unanswered. For St. Mike's, Finn Brown, who will play for Team East at the national Top Prospects game next week, scored his club-leading 22nd goal.

To wrap up the week, the Golden Hawks and the Panthers met in Trenton and a win for the home side would put them three ahead of the dogged Dukes in the East race but the visitors hopes were high as they were on a four-game winning run. The Panthers shocked the 450 'Hawks fans by going out in front by four goals to nil and they would hold on for their 20th win of the season in the 7-1 final. Two goals for Nathan Gooch and a goal and two assists for Eli Pilosof. Floridian Darius Bell put in a strong performance stopping 39. For the month of December and the three games they have played in January, that's 11 contests in all, the Panthers have not allowed more than two goals per game. They were playing shorthanded when Andrew Suriyuth got the Golden Hawks goal.

Coming up:

• The Jan. 10, trade deadline is almost upon us so next week's review will include more players wearing different uniforms.

• The CHCH OJHL game of the week returns with the Oakville Blades hosting the Georgetown Raiders on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Follow Ron Valentine on Twitter @ronandlynda