Photo by: Keith Sharp

The Robertson Cup champion Hamilton Steelers and host Dundas Real McCoy did battle for the tenth time this season, but this time a birth in the Allan Cup Challenge finals was on the line.

While you would think playing at home the McCoys would have more fans in the crowd, it seemed to be 50-50 as to who the more than 800 fans who packed the Grightmire Arena.

It didn’t take too long after the puck hit the ice for it to found in the back of the net as Darren Haydar gave the hometown Real McCoys a 1-0 lead. Hamilton had multiple chances to even the game at one on their power play, but Mike Ruberto’s tip slipped right through the crease and moments later Michael Riley put it off the side of the net.

Down by 2 just over halfway through the period, Joel Knight got the Steelers on the board with an unassisted goal. However, Cam Fergus scored on the power play 89 seconds to regain the two-goal cushion.

Hamilton would nearly score shorthanded late in the period when Cam Sault was sprung on a breakaway, but Mike Mole stood his ground in the McCoys net.

In the second period, both squads had chances to score but they were unable to score, until the 14:32 point when Cordell James drew the Steelers within one of Dundas.

James would pick up his second of the contest 6:55 into the third, shorthanded, to even the score when he was sprung on a breakaway and went top shelf on the backhand. However, 12 seconds later Jarrett Konkle gave the McCoys the lead once again. That is when Hamilton got into penalty trouble with three straight power play goals coming from Chris Campoli, Dustin Alcock and MacKenzie Wood.

The Real McCoys would go on and take the game 7-4 and advance to the Allan Cup Challenge championship game. Saturday’s championship game will be played at 3:30pm and will be broadcast live locally by Cable 14 Hamilton and online at Cable14Now.com.

Boxscore: http://stats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=3624660

Upcoming Game
Saturday, April 22
Championship – Dundas Real McCoys vs Clarenville Ford Caribous at 3:30pm