Tuesday marked a tough start to the 2016 Dudley Hewitt Cup in Kirkland Lake for the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League champs.
In a game between two of the top Jr. A teams in the country, the Soo Thunderbirds fell to the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Trenton Golden Hawks 4-2 on Tuesday afternoon at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex in Kirkland Lake.
A pair of power play goals in the third period by the Golden Hawks was the difference.
“You can’t give a team like Trenton that many opportunities,” said Thunderbirds Coach Jordan Smith of the 11 power plays the Golden Hawks. “We’ve got to find a way to get ourselves out of some of those calls. We’ve got to manage our sticks better and move our feet instead of locking into a hook. It’s the little things.”
The Golden Hawks scored twice on the power play while also scoring seconds after a Thunderbirds penalty expired in the opening period. The Golden Hawks fourth goal, into an empty net in the final minute, came shorthanded.
Goaltender Connor Ryckman made 35 saves and was named the Thunderbirds player of the game.
“Connor was great and he made some big saves,” Smith said. “We killed off two five-on-three’s and you’re goalie has to be playing well (in that situation).”
Michael Caruso and Mark Tassone had the goals for the Thunderbirds. Both goals were on the power play.
“We were able to generate a lot of chances but it’s scary to think that games can be decided by special teams,” Smith said. “If today was any indication, special teams are going to play a huge role.”
Smith would say that the pace of the game was what was expected heading into the tournament.
“The pace was a lot faster and it’s a good indication of what we’re going to see the rest of the week,” Smith said. “Not coming out with the win is disappointing but this is only Tuesday.”
Smith said that the loss “puts us in a spot where the next game is pretty important.”
Josh Allan’s goal at 15:42 of the third period was the game-winner. Adam Clements had the other power play goal for Trenton while Hunter Fargey and Lucas Brown had the other goals for the Golden Hawks.
Brown and Fargey had a goal and an assist each.
Goaltender Daniel Urbani stopped 34 shots.
Tuesday’s other game was an evening matchup between the host team, the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners and the Superior International League’s Fort Frances Lakers.
The Thunderbirds return to action on Wednesday against Fort Frances at 2 p.m. before wrapping up the round robin on Thursday night against Kirkland Lake.
The round robin ends on Thursday and the championship game is set for Saturday night.