The 21st annual Under-18 All-Star Festival fuelled by Gatorade got underway on Friday, January 27, beginning with the ‘AAA’ game.
Packed with comeback magic, Team Blue netted five unanswered goals in the final 20 minutes to take the U18 ‘AAA’ All-Star Game in a 7-4 final. Team Blue goaltender Jacob Gibbons (Toronto Red Wings) – tasked with a battling Team Red in the third period – earned the Gatorade Performer of the Game. The Gatorade Performer of the Game for Team Red was Lirim Amidovski (Toronto Jr. Canadiens), who recorded a hat trick.
Congratulations to the #GatoradeCanada Top Performers of the ⭐️⭐️⭐️ #U18AllStars Game:
🔵 Jacob Gibbons (@GthlRedwings)
🔴 Lirim Amidovski (@JrCanadiensAAA) pic.twitter.com/ku2O2YBqAl— GTHL Hockey (@GTHLHockey) January 28, 2023
The ‘AAA’ All-Stars were each welcomed to the ice with a great crowd in attendance at Scotiabank Pond. Gatorade’s Mike Alaimo and the GTHL’s 2nd Vice President Gord McDonald wrapped up the pre-game festivities, dropping the puck for the ceremonial face-off.
Thanks to #GatoradeCanada for fuelling our ⭐️⭐️⭐️ #U18AllStars! pic.twitter.com/ViYuu3eB1D
— GTHL Hockey (@GTHLHockey) January 28, 2023
The teams kept things tight in the opening frame, each getting on the scoreboard for a 1-1 lock-up heading into the first intermission. Amidovski got his first of the game, while Chrisanthos Foulidis (Toronto Marlboros) put Team Blue on the board.
Team Red opened the game up in the second as Amidovski completed his hat trick and Thunder Bay’s Peter Forester put the home squad up 4-2. Jack Dean (North York Rangers) added one for Team Blue.
From there, it was all blue.
Joshua Colosimo (North York Rangers) kicked things off with a shorthanded marker, while defenceman Garrett Nystrom (Markham Majors) got in on the action to tie things up at four-a-piece.
The game winner came on the power play at the hands of Frank Castiglione (Vaughan Kings). Sealing the deal was Foulidis with the empty net marker for his second of the game.
To view all the photos from the game, visit the G Gallery here.
