Photo by Mike Marasco

Game two of the best of three series shifted to the Gateway Ice Centre in Stoney Creek on Saturday night with the Wentworth Gryphins looking to capture the Robertson Cup and punch their ticket to the Allan Cup Challenge tournament later this month. Like on Thursday night, the teams would need some extra time to get a winner, with the Stoney Creek Tigers picking up the goal 14 seconds into the extra frame to even the series at one game.

Wentworth got an early power play in the contest and put some pressure on but were unable to score with the extra man. Before the halfway mark of the first period, it looked like the Tigers would get on the board as they had a yawning cage staring at them, but the shot got tipped wide. The games opening goal would finally come with 5:06 left in the first when Dan Poliziani found the back of the net.

In the second, the Gryphins looked like they were about to even the score just over five minutes in but the tip at the side of the Stoney Creek net found Daniel Svedin’s pads. From there, Wentworth got into penalty trouble, taking three consecutive penalties, and giving the Tigers 6:40 of consecutive power play time, including a pair of five-on-three advantages. But Matt Camilleri stood tall in the net and held the home side off the board.

Wentworth would even the score with 65 ticks left on the clock in the second period, just seconds after a Stoney Creek penalty had expired. Kyle Lewis would be credited with the tying goal, setting up for a dramatic third period.

Stephen Thorne would regain the lead for the Tigers just two minutes into the third period. However, Wentworth kept up the pressure and on a goal mouth scramble, Matt Beca would light the lamp and even the game at two.

With the clock winding down, the Gryphins appeared to have taken the lead, but the goal was waved off as the net was off its pegs before the puck crossed the line. With neither team able to score in the final four minutes of play we headed to overtime for the second consecutive game.

Overtime didn’t last that long as Thorne skated into the Wentworth zone and released a howitzer of a shot that went past Camilleri to give the Tigers the win at the 14 second mark.

Svedin got the win in the Stoney Creek crease, making 42 saves while Camilleri made 33 saves on the night for the Gryphins.

Game three of the series will be played on Wednesday April 10th at the Harry Howell Arena in Flamborough. The action is scheduled to get underway at 7:30pm and we are guaranteed to crown the 2024 J. Ross Robertson Cup champions that night.

Boxscore: http://stats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=3654588

Robertson Cup Finals
Game 3
Wednesday April 10 – 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