Photo by Paul Wright

A day after being eliminated from contention to advance to the ACH Robertson Cup, the Dundas Real McCoys finished off their ACH season with a big 10-7 victory over the Wentworth Gryphins. The most surprising part of the win was that forward Ralph Taggart picked up the win in the between the pipes in an emergency.

Mike Mole started the game in the McCoys crease but just over 15 minutes into the game, he was replaced by Dan Davies as the starter left with an apparent injury. Davies would also be taken out of the game with an apparent injury just over five minutes into the second period, leaving Dundas with a problem, no goaltender to play.

However, Taggart volunteered and suited up in most of Mole’s gear to finish off the game. He would go on to surrender just one goal on 17 shots in over 25 minutes in the crease. Not only did he get the win in the net, but Taggart also scored the game’s opening goal for the McCoys.

Darren Haydar and Brad Bonello each scored in the first period for Dundas while Tyler Hore got the only tally in the frame for the visiting Gryphins.

In the second, the McCoys scored the first two goals of the period with Nathan Longpre and Simon Mangos making it 5-1. From there, Wentworth took over, scoring five goals in just under seven minutes of play to take a 6-5 lead to the dressing room after the period. Perry D’Arriso, Jason Popek, Matt MacLeod, Remy Giftopoulos and Alex Hutchings all tallied for the visitors.

However, momentum swung back to the McCoys who evened the score at six on Nick McMullen’s power play marker at 6:20. From there, the temperature on the ice heated up. After Dundas’ Bonello was issued a misconduct for inciting an opponent, the Gryphins’ Dom Monardo received a slashing minor and a match penalty for cross-checking, giving the McCoys a seven-minute power play with just 6:35 to go in regulation.

The McCoys took full advantage of their power play time, getting goals from Slater Doggett, Jarrett Konkle and Phil Brewer. Longpre would add one more, into an empty net, with just under two minutes left in the contest. With everything said and done, Wentworth picked up an unassisted goal by Corey Caruso in the final minute of play.

Mole would stop all 10 shots he faced while Davies allowed six goals on 23 shots in the Dundas win. Dawson Carty was in net for the Gryphins, making 40 saves on the night.

With their loss, Wentworth will now battle the Stoney Creek Tigers on Thursday, March 28 to close out the round robin portion of the postseason with the winner of the game finishing in first. For Dundas, they will have time to heal up injuries while they prepare for the 2024 Allan Cup Challenge tournament which will be held April 20-27 at the J.L. Grightmire Arena.

Boxscore: https://stats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=3651917

Upcoming Playoff Games
Thursday March 28
Stoney Creek at Wentworth – 7:30pm

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