Wednesday night saw the ACH season come to the close and a champion crowned as the Wentworth Gryphins hosted the Stoney Creek Tigers in the third and final game of the championship series. The first two games of the championship series were thrilling, and Game 3 didn’t disappoint as the teams combined for nine goals.

 

On this night, Cordell James led the Tigers with a goal and three assists and Paul Geiger scored twice on their way to doubling up Wentworth 6-3 to win their second Robertson Cup championship in as many years.

 

The game started off tight between the teams, just like the other two games in the series, but it was the visitors that got on the board first. Stoney Creek took advantage of their power play with Kyle Essery scoring at 11:28 of the opening frame, in what would be the period’s only tally.

 

In the second, the Tigers extended their lead on the Gryphins. Paul Geiger scored just 41 seconds into the period while on the power play to double their lead. But Geiger wasn’t done there as he scored his second goal of the stanza with 5:26 remaining. However, Wentworth wasn’t going down without a fight and took advantage of a power play to get on the board on Perry D’Arriso’s goal with just over two and half minutes to go, cutting the Stoney Creek lead to 3-1.

 

The contest heated up in the third. It got so hot that the teams combined for 34 minutes in penalties on 9 infractions. Between all the penalties, the teams would score five times. Tyler VanKleef scored first for Wentworth in the third, getting the home side within a goal once again. However, Stoney Creek came right back with goals from Jordan Gignac and Cole Poliziani 26 seconds apart, taking a 5-2 lead.

 

With just under nine minutes left in regulation, and the Gryphins down a man, Marc Silvestri scored a shorthanded goal, giving his team some energy. Wentworth continued to press looking to close the gap, but James closed out the game scoring with 2:30 left in regulation giving Stoney Creek the 6-3 win.

 

Daniel Svedin backstopped his Tigers to the championship win, making 41 saves on the night while Matt Camilleri stopped 33 of 39 shots he faced.

 

Not only did the Stoney Creek Tigers capture the J. Ross Robertson Cup but the victory also means they will be part of the 2024 Allan Cup Challenge tournament that will take place April 20th to 27th at the J.L. Grightmire Arena in Dundas, Ontario. The Dundas Real McCoys will open the tournament on Saturday April 20th against the Southern Shore Breakers starting at 7:30pm and the next night the Tigers will play the Innisfail Eagles also starting at 7:30pm.

 

To purchase a pass for the tournament, click here.

 

Boxscore: https://stats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=3654589

 

For more information contact Allan Cup Hockey Commissioner Rick Richardson at 905-328-4727 or email: rickystar911@outlook.com