Story and photos by Max Lewis

As the regular-season winds down across the GTHL, each team focuses on their respective goals. 

For those outside the playoff race, the last few games present an opportunity to finish strong and build toward next year. Clubs in the hunt take the ice with one eye on the puck and the other on the standings, knowing the importance of every shift, every game and every point. Near the top of the standings, teams have one goal: first place and the illustrious Kraft Cup.

All these goals share a common thread – the desire to win games. 

Two Minor Midget AAA teams that fit into the third category – the first-place Toronto Marlboros and second-place Mississauga Rebels – clashed last night at Scotiabank Pond. Both clubs knew the importance of a win, as they entered the contest separated by only four points.

The first frame belonged to the Marlboros. After a calculated approach by both teams in the opening minutes, the boys in blue asserted themselves with great cycle work and jarring hits from their big forwards. Toronto poured in a barrage of shots on net, but Rebels goaltender Cristian Cugini proved equal to the task, weathering the storm and robbing Graeme Clarke on a breakaway. The Marlboros finally solved Cugini late in the period, when Allan McShane went bar-down off a pass from Danil Antropov.

The Rebels woke up in the second period as they got their chip-and-chase game rolling with Jack Hughes and Ryan Littlejohn using their finesse and tenacity to win puck battles and reclaim momentum. 

It didn’t take long for Mississauga to tie the score after a pretty passing play between Hughes and Sam Bitten ended with the puck on the stick of defenceman Peter Stratis, who fired a perfect shot past Marlboros netminder Elliot Tang.

Minutes later, the Rebels took the lead on a hard-earned goal from Teth Burles and almost added to their advantage when Nicholas Canade had the puck in close, but Tang reached across for a highlight-reel stick save.

The Rebels took the game by the reins in the third period – and didn’t let go.

Mississauga opened the flood gates on the strength of goals from Bitten (2), Andrew Peters, Riley Damiani and Canade en route to a 7-1 victory.

With the win, the Rebels (20-3-6, 46 points) moved within two points of the Marlboros (23-4-2, 48 points) for first place in the division. With only four games remaining in the regular-season, the two clubs appear headed down the same road as last season, when the Don Mills Flyers and Toronto Titans faced off in a winner-take-all tiebreaker for the Kraft Cup.

Click here to see photos from Tuesday’s game.

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