On one of the biggest nights of their young hockey careers, 40 of the top Minor Midget players from around the League took to the ice for the 8th Annual GTHL Top Prospects Game, Powered by Under Armour. It was standing room only at Scotiabank Pond as Team MacLean faced off against Team Kypreos.
It didn’t take long for the crowd to get back on their feet after the national anthem as Jack Hughes (Toronto Marlboros) scored for Team MacLean just 51 seconds into the game. The assists went to Daniel D’Amico (Toronto Marlboros) and Alex Dominique (Toronto Titans). The line of Hughes, D’Amico, and Dominique continued to be dominant throughout the remainder of the first period.
Team Kypreos was only able to muster five shots in the first period but managed to score on a quality chance from Dennis Golovatchev (Mississauga Reps). The speedy winger was able to beat Zachary Roy (Toronto Young Nationals) far side to tie the game at one.
Just two minutes after the Golovatchev goal, Team MacLean took back the lead as Nicholas Wong (Mississauga Senators) received a beautiful cross-crease pass from Connor LePage (Toronto Titans) to make the score 2-1. At the end of the first, the shots were 11 – 5 for Team MacLean.
Momentum continued in Team MacLean’s favor in the second period when Team Kypreos took a penalty for too many men. Just 23 seconds after the penalty expired, Team MacLean’s Connor LePage won the faceoff back to the point, drove the net, and netted the rebound to put Team MacLean up 3-1.
Although Team MacLean was dominant in the first two periods, the third belonged to Team Kypreos. Just three minutes into the period, Eric Ciccolini (Vaughan Kings) put Team Kypreos within one after capitalizing on a breakaway chance. Ciccolini’s goal gave Team Kypreos a skip in their step as they produced numerous quality chances four shifts in a row. Even with full momentum, Team Kypreos could not seem to beat Team MacLean goaltender
Ciccolini’s goal gave Team Kypreos a skip in their step as they produced numerous quality chances four shifts in a row. Even with full momentum, Team Kypreos could not seem to beat Team MacLean goaltender David Cunti (Toronto Titans), who made 14 saves in the third to preserve the lead for his squad.
The Toronto Young Nationals line of Mason Primeau, Ethan Keppen and Brandon Coe gave Team MacLean some much needed momentum back in the third after Mason Primeau restored Team MacLean’s two goal lead.
After Primeau made it 4-2 for Team MacLean, both goaltenders started to steal the show. Christian Sbaraglia (Vaughan Kings) made some timely saves to keep Team Kypreos in the game, while Team MacLean’s David Cunti shut the door, once again.
Down by two, Team Kypreos pulled their goalie with three minutes left in the game. It wouldn’t be long before Dylan Jackson (Mississauga Rebels) scored an empty-netter to secure the 5-2 win for Team MacLean.
Eric Ciccolini (Team Kypreos) and Mason Primeau (Team MacLean) both took home MVP honours after notching one goal each.
Team MacLean: 1st: J. Hughes (D. D’Amico, A. Dominique), N. Wong (C. LePage, A. Tabak) 2nd: C. LePage (N. Wong, M. Vukojevic) 3rd: M. Primeau (A. Aguanno, B. Coe), D. Jackson (Unassisted)
Team Kypreos: 1st: D. Golovatchev (T. Smith) 3rd: E. Ciccolini (L. Rowe)
