Cambridge Redhawks Payton McLeish (left) and Andrew Casasanta celebrate a goal. (Photo by FS Fotos)

Sugar Kings, Redhawks continue to roll with two-win weekend 

The rich got richer this weekend in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Midwestern Conference this weekend, as the first place Elmira Sugar Kings and third place Cambridge Redhawks escaped unscathed. 

The Sugar Kings began their weekend on Friday night with a date on the road with the Stratford Warriors. Elmira came out on fire, putting 14 shots on Stratford goalie Tyler Parr in the opening frame and getting one past him, a powerplay marker by Harrison Toms. The Kings would strike on the man advantage again early in the second period, this time thanks to Hunter Dubecki’s 14th of the season, extending his goal-scoring streak to four games. Jacob Black and Jeremey Goodwin added to Elmira’s lead in the period, and the Warriors trailed 4-0 after 40 minutes. In the third, both teams got into penalty trouble which led to a sloppy period, and didn’t allow Stratford to climb back into the game. Dawson Rowe completed the shutout in goal for Elmira, stopping all 21 shots he faced, and the game ended 4-0 Sugar Kings. 

On Sunday night, Elmira welcomed the second place Kitchener Dutchmen to town, looking to extend its lead atop the Midwest standings. Mason McMahon opened the scoring for the home side with the lone goal of the first period, with an assist going to Dubecki. The Dutchmen would answer early in the second on a goal from Luke Munroe, and the teams were deadlocked 1-1 heading into the third. Elmira’s quick-strike offense was on display in the deciding frame, with Dubecki scoring in his fifth-straight game six minutes in, and Goodwin putting the Sugar Kings up by two just over a minute later. Eli Palfreyman brought Kitchener to within one with under five minutes to play, but Elmira goalie Greg Brassard didn’t allow the equalizer, and finished with 26 saves in the victory. Kitchener was coming off a 4-0 win over the Waterloo Siskins on Saturday afternoon, in which Lucas Patton stopped 26 shots for his third shutout of the season. The Siskins also lost to the Brampton Bombers, 2-1 in overtime on Friday, and to Stratford, 5-1 at home on Sunday. 

The Cambridge Redhawks continue to prove that they’re a legitimate contender in the Midwest, winning on Friday night in Listowel and Sunday afternoon in Brantford. On Friday, the first period provided all the scoring until overtime. Steven Grant broke the scoreless tie just a minute and a half into the game, with assists going to Tyler Hotson and Thomas Gangl. Andrew Britton answered for Cambridge three minutes later, and the game was tied 1-1. Goaltending quickly became the story, especially for Listowel as Dixon Grimes stopped 35 shots in regulation as Cambridge outshot the Cyclones 36-18. A minute into overtime, Listowel’s Jonah White took a cross checking penalty that gave the Redhawks an opportunity to end it early. Payton McLeish did just that, taking the feed from Nolan Forster and depositing it behind Grimes for the game-winner, 2-1. 

Offense was the story for Cambridge on Sunday in Brantford, as the Redhawks unloaded on the Bandits early. Cambridge scored four times in a five-minute span during the first period, getting goals from Jacob Coulson, Andrew Casasanta, Joey Warywoda, and Kyle Baker. The Redhawks outshot the Bandits 22-5 in the frame. Brantford put a push on in the second period, putting 10 shots on Reagan Gies, but he handled them all. Early in the third, Baker would score twice to complete the hat-trick, and Brendan Bauer added another goal to give Cambridge the convincing 7-0 victory. Gies finished with 21 saves in the shutout. The Redhawks boasted six players with at least two points, including Baker’s three goals. 

Cambridge now moves two points shy of Kitchener for second place in the Midwest, with a game in hand. Elmira still leads the pack with 37 points in 23 games, while Listowel and Stratford drop further back in fourth and fifth, respectively. Brampton, Waterloo and Brantford round out the eight-team conference.