Photo credit: James Mirabelli

Dudley-Hewitt Cup Media Update

Release date: Tuesday, April 17, 2012
 
Spirit sink North Stars 2-1 in overtime

THUNDER BAY, Ont. – Chris Porter’s long rising shot from the left side went high into the top right hand corner 2:41 into overtime to lift the Stouffville Spirit to a 2-1 win over the host Thunder Bay North Stars Tuesday evening at the Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canadian Junior A Hockey Championship being held in the Fort William Gardens.

The visitors cracked the score sheet first as Christian Power’s power play volley from the left point midway through the opening period was sailing wide, but hit North Stars’ defender Tyler Osborne in the shoulder and fluttered into the open corner past a helpless Carter McEachern in the Thunder Bay net.

Osborne made amends for the unfortunate ricochet less than three minutes later as his blast from just inside the blueline was redirected by North Stars’ captain Sam Dubinsky for the equalizer.

The game turned into a tight-checking affair the rest of the way with McEachern and Stouffville netminder Jonathon Hall both taking turns making a serious of solid saves to keep the contest knotted at one through regulation.

Heading to extra time Porter put an early end to the OT session to help the Ontario Junior Hockey League champions start the Dudley-Hewitt with a victory.

The tournament’s first game also required overtime to determine a winner as the Soo Thunderbirds of Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League edged the SIJHL champion Wisconsin Wilderness courtesy of Brett Campbell’s game-winner.

RBK player of the game honours went to McEachern of the North Stars and Stouffville’s Hall.

Round robin play continues Wednesday as Stouffville takes on Wisconsin at 2 p.m. followed by the North Stars and Thunderbirds at 7:30 p.m.