CORNWALL, Ont. – Colin Rigney (Orangeville Flyers) had a goal and an assist to help lead Ontario Junior Hockey League Coffey to a 4-1 victory over Team Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Tuesday afternoon in Day 2 play of the Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge in Cornwall, Ont.
An early two-man advantage allowed the NOJHL to take the lead as Matthew Caruso (Soo Thunderbirds) finished off a crisp three-way passing play with Eric Nagy (Powassan Voodoos) and Braeden Cross (Cochrane Crunch) by wiring a blast from the left circle into the top corner past OJHL Coffey starter Cosimo Lazzarino (St. Michael’s Buzzers).
The OJHL side drew level with 4:59 to go in the first after a NOJHL defender lost an edge in his own zone and allowed Rigney a golden opportunity from in close and he made no mistake as he cut left and tucked the equalizer past goaltender Nate McDonald (Powassan Voodoos).
A late power play saw OJHL Coffey go in front as former Kirkland Lake Gold Miners standout Brayden Stortz (Wellington Dukes) stuffed in the go ahead effort from the left of McDonald at 17:09.
With the 10-team event featuring a two-period format for each contest, the second and final stanza saw a couple of big saves by McDonald early in the frame, but the OJHL capitalized moments after a NOJHL penalty had expired as Rylee St. Onge (Markham Royals) finished off a feed from Rigney, who had been left unattended in front of the net at 5:16.
Kyle Thomas (Stouffville Spirit) then added one final tally in the late going for the OJHLers to round out the scoring.
Shots on goal favoured Team NOJHL by a 27-25 margin with Lazzarino picking up the win and McDonald the loss.
With the result the NOJHL Falls to 0-3 while OJHL Coffey improved to 3-0.
The NOJHL will conclude play tonight at 8 p.m. when they take on 2-1 OJHL Hawerchuk.
Every Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge game will be streamed online via HockeyTV.com.
