The battle for the ACH Robertson Cup started this past weekend when the Whitby Dunlops travelled to the Gateway Ice Centre on Saturday night. The regular season’s first and second place teams are playing for the chance to participate in this year’s Allan Cup in Bouctouche, New Brunswick.

Game 1 of the Championship Series started off slowly with a scoreless first period and Stoney Creek holding a slight edge in shots on goal 11-8. 

The game began to change in the second, starting with Nick Tuzzolino capitalizing on the power play from Justin Donati and Matt Dzieduszycki to give the Generals a 1 goal lead. Just over a minute later, Whitby tied the game on a goal scored by Tyler Melancon. Shortly after Melancon’s tying goal there was a flurry of penalties, starting with the Generals’ Tuzzolino who received a 5 minute cross checking penalty and a game misconduct. Then, with 3 minutes remaining in Tuzzolino’s penalty, Dzieduszycki was called for checking from behind, but Whitby’s 2 man advantage didn’t last long as a few seconds later Whitby’s Kyle McLaughlin was called for tripping. And just when you thought the box couldn’t be more crowded, 30 seconds later Whitby’s Jason Dale received a slashing penalty, and both teams were down 2 men. 3 on 3 hockey lasted for 45 seconds and as Tuzzolino’s penalty came to an end, Cam Fergus scored from Matt Bud Kelly and Justin Dacosta to give the Generals back their 1 goal lead. After all of the penalties ended, Matt Ruberto scored unassisted to put the Generals up 3-1 at the halfway point of the second period. Generals’ goalie Dave Brown was called for delay of game but the Generals’ penalty kill held strong and kept the Dunlops off the scoresheet. Cody Thornton scored at 16:19 of the second period from Justin Donati to round out the scoring in the period and the Generals took a 4-1 lead into the intermission. Shots were even at 27 each after two periods.

Conor O’Donnell added the final goal of the game for Stoney Creek early in the third period with assists by Igor Gongalsky and Thornton. Brown and Dunlops’ goalie Matthew Cadieux stopped the rest of the shots they faced in the third period and the game finished with the Generals coming out on top 5 to 1. 

Generals’ goaltender Dave Brown made 31 saves on 32 shots earning the game’s 1st star and Dunlops’ goaltender Matthew Cadieux faced 38 shots and made 33 saves. The game’s second star went to General Cody Thornton (1G, 1A) and third star was General Justin Donati (2A).

Next Game:
The Generals are heading to Whitby for game 2 on Wednesday, March 22 at 8:00 PM

Boxscore

2017 ALLAN CUP HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES SCHEDULE:
Game 1: Sat. Mar. 18 at 7:15 PM – Whitby 1 at Stoney Creek 5
Game 2: Wed. Mar. 22 at 8:00 PM – Stoney Creek at Whitby
Game 3: Fri. Mar. 24 at 8:00 PM – Whitby at Stoney Creek
Game 4: Sat. Mar. 25 at 7:30 PM – Stoney Creek at Whitby
*Game 5: Sun. Mar. 26 at 6:30 PM – Whitby at Stoney Creek
*Game 6: Wed. Mar. 29 at 8:00 PM – Stoney Creek at Whitby
*Game 7: Sat. Apr. 1 at 7:15 PM – Whitby at Stoney Creek
(* if necessary)