NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Saturday, May 9, 2015
Carleton Place stymies Soo in RBC Cup opener
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man. – Guillaume Therien stopped all 27 shots he faced while Jordan Lasron tallied twice and set-up another to help propel the Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) to a 4-0 victory over the Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) Saturday in Day 1 play at the 2015 RBC Cup Canadian Jr. A Championship in Portage la Prairie, Man.
Carleton Place opened the scoring at PCU Centre seven at and half minutes into the contest as gifted forward Andy Sturtz split the Soo defence and was sent in on a breakaway where he made no mistake cutting left and lifting a backhand into the top corner over Thunderbirds starter Mario Culina.
An early turning point in the match-up saw Sault Ste. Marie have a great opportunity to draw even as they had a lengthy two-man advantage, but could not solve Canadians goaltender Therien who helped his side carry the lead into the middle session.
Carleton Place extended their cushion during a delayed penalty call 4:51 into a second as Wesley Baker snapped one past Culina from the top of the crease.
Sturtz then added his second point of the night late in the stanza as he fed Larson in the high slot, who one-timed a blast beating Culina cleanly, who had no chance on the play.
The Canadians Bryce Van Horn was awarded a penalty shot at 19:29 of the period, but the Soo stopper stood tall keeping it 3-0 through 40 minutes.
Larson then capped off the nights scoring tucking a shot under the cross bar at 13:30 of the third with Sturtz adding another assist to complete a three-point evening of his own for Carleton Place.
Culina was solid despite the loss for the Soo finishing with 32 saves in defeat.
Player of the game laurels were awarded to Sturtz and T-Birds defenceman Owen Headrick.
After a day off Sunday, the Thunderbirds return to game action Monday evening at 8 p.m. back in Portage as they take on the Melfort Mustangs (SJHL) of Saskatchewan.
Melfort meets the Penticton Vees (BCHL) (0-1) in their first game of the RBC Cup while the Vees look to rebound following a 3-2 loss to the host Portage Terriers (MJHL) earlier Saturday.
All RBC Cup round robin and semifinal games are available online via FASTHockey.com while the championship will be on TSN.
RBC Cup Canadian Jr. A Championship
PCU Centre – Portage la Prairie, Man.
Dates: May 9-17
Competing Teams
Host: Portage Terriers (MJHL)
Central: Soo Thunderbirds (Dudley-Hewitt Cup champion)
East: Carleton Place Canadians (Fred Page Cup champion)
West 1: Penticton Vees (Crescent Point Energy Cup champion)
West 2: Melfort Mustangs (Crescent Point Energy Cup finalist)
Schedule
Saturday, May 9
Portage 3 Penticton 2
Carleton Place 4 Soo 0
Sunday, May 10
Melfort vs. Penticton 3 p.m.
Portage vs. Carleton Place 8 p.m.
Monday, May 11
Melfort vs. Soo 8 p.m.
Tuesday, May 12
Carleton Place vs. Penticton 3 p.m.
Soo vs. Portage 8 p.m.
Wednesday, May 13
Carleton Place vs. Melfort 8 p.m.
Thursday, May 14
Penticton vs. Soo 3 p.m.
Portage vs. Melfort 8 p.m.
Friday, May 17
CJHL Awards Banquet
Saturday, May 16
Semifinal 1: 3 p.m.
Semifinal 2: 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 17
Final: 8 p.m.
