The beginning of the final series for the Robertson Cup began this past weekend when the Whitby Dunlops came to Gateway Ice Centre on Saturday night. The regular season’s first and second place teams are battling it out for a chance to participate in this years Allan Cup in Bouctouche, New Brunswick.
Their first meeting started off slowly with a scoreless first period and close shots on net 
with Stoney Creek leading 11-8. The game began to change in the second starting with Nick Tuzzolino capitalizing on the power play to give the Generals a 1 goal lead with assists by Justin Donati and Dzieduszycki. Just over a minute later, Whitby ties the game with a goal scored by Melancon. Shortly after began a series of penalties for both teams, starting off with the Generals. Tuzzolino is called for cross checking and receives a 5 minute penalty and a game misconduct. With 3 minutes remaining in Tuzzolino’s penalty, Dzieduszycki joins him for cross checking from behind and receives 2 minutes and a game misconduct. Whitby’s 2 man advantage doesn’t last long as a few seconds later Whitby’s Kyle McLaughlin receives 2 minutes for tripping. And just when you thought the box couldn’t be more crowded, 30 seconds later Whitby’s Jason Dale receives a slashing penalty, he goes to the box for 2 minutes. 3 on 3 hockey lasted for 45 seconds and as Tuzzolino’s penalty comes to an end, Cam Fergus scores to give the Generals back their 1 goal lead with assists by Kelly and DaCosta. With all the penalties served, Matt Ruberto scores unassisted taking us to the halfway point of the second period. Generals goalie Dave Brown would receive the last penalty of the second a few minutes later for delay of game but the Generals held strong. Cody Thornton scores at full strength with an assist by Justin Donati to take us to the end of the second period. Shots were even at 27 each.
Conor O’Donnell adds the final goal of the game for Stoney Creek in the third period with assists by Gongalsky and Thornton. Fergus and Whitby’s Ventura receive off setting penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct and slashing around the 7 minute mark but no one would capitalize. By the end of the third, Generals are called for only 1 more penalty to Jason Popek for unsportsmanlike conduct while Whitby receives 2 more penalties for slashing and unsportsmanlike conduct. The final score 5-1 for Stoney Creek. 
Generals goalie Dave Brown made 31 saves on 32 shots earning the game’s 1st star and Dunlops goalie Matthew Cadieux faced 38 shots and made 33 saves. The game’s second star goes to General Cody Thornton (1G1A) and third star to General Justin Donati (2A).
The Generals are heading to Whitby for game 2 on Wednesday March 22 at 8PM, game 3 is on Friday March 24 at 8PM at Gateway Ice Centre, game 4 is in Whitby on Saturday March 25 at 7:30PM, if necessary game 5 is back at Gateway Ice Centre on Sunday March 26 at 6:30PM, if necessary game 6 is back in Whitby on Wednesday March 29 at 8PM and if necessary game 7 is at Gateway Ice Centre on Saturday April 1 at 7:15PM.
Match report courtesy of Vanessa Trombetta
You must be logged in to post a comment.