2019 OHL Gold Cup Day 1 Recap
Team GTHL Red, GTHL Blue, NOHA and HEO were all winners to open the 2019 OHL Gold Cup at the Activa Sportsplex in Kitchener, Ont. on Thursday.
A total of 128 players chosen in April’s OHL Priority Selection are representing their respective minor hockey associations in the annual showcase event.
Here’s a look at Thursday’s action.
FLYERS QUARTET LIFTS GTHL RED TO WIN IN OPENER
GTHL RED 5 (1-0-0-0) – ALLIANCE 0 (0-1-0-0)
Brandt Clarke (BAR) had a goal and two assists while Don Mills Flyers Edward Moskowitz (FLNT), Alex Christopoulos (NB) and Liam Arnsby (NB) also had multi-point outputs as GTHL Red skated to a 5-0 tournament-opening victory.
After a scoreless first, GTHL Red surged in the second with goals from Wyatt Johnston (WSR), Moskowitz, Christopoulos and Clarke before Moskowitz potted his second of the contest to finish things off in the third period.
Goaltenders Josh Rosenzweig (NIAG) and Nicholas Von Kaufmann (OS) split duty in the GTHL Red crease, combining for a 17-save shutout while heavily outshot ALLIANCE netminder Max Donoso (OTT) turned aside 33 shots his way.
GTHL Red’s dominant second period saw them outshoot the ALLIANCE 21-3 enroute to a game total of 38-17.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
GTHL Red: Alex Christopoulos (NB) – 1G, 1A
ALLIANCE: Brett Harrison (OSH)
DEFENDING CHAMPION GTHL BLUE RALLIES FROM BEHIND FOR SHOOTOUT WIN
GTHL BLUE 5 (1-0-0-0) – OMHA WHITE 4 (0-0-0-1) – SO
OMHA White stormed out of the gate for a 3-0 first period lead before defending OHL Gold Cup champion GTHL Blue clawed their way back in a 5-4 shootout win. The Don Mills Flyers duo of Brennan Othmann (FLNT) and Francesco Arcuri (KGN) joined Francesco Pinelli (KIT) in making good on their shootout attempts while Forbes Andersen (ER) shut the door in goal.
GTHL Blue ran into first period penalty trouble as Ethan Larmand (SBY), Nicholas Paone (PBO) and Barret Joynt (KGN) opened up the lead for OMHA White.
Danny Zhilkin (GUE) got GTHL Blue on the board 1:34 into the second period before defenceman Andre Anania (SBY) cut the deficit to one with 4:17 left in the frame.
Arcuri tied the score 48 seconds into the third before Joynt netted his second of the contest to put OMHA White back up 4-3. Othmann knotted things up at four midway through the period, sending the game to overtime in a draw.
GTHL Blue prevailed in the shootout to start their showcase off on the right foot, outshooting their opponent 30-17 in the process.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
GTHL Blue: Danny Zhilkin (GUE) – 1G, 1A
OMHA White: Barret Joynt (KGN) – 2G
WALKER SCORES OT WINNER AS NOHA TOPS OMHA BLACK 4-3
NOHA 4 (1-0-0-0) – OMHA BLACK 3 (0-0-1-0) – OT
Cameron Walker (KGN) scored 4:24 into overtime with assists from Max McCue (LDN) and Jack Matier (OTT) as Team NOHA edged OMHA Black 4-3 to open their OHL Gold Cup showcase.
A first round pick of the Ottawa 67’s, big blueliner Matier tied things up at three with 5:11 remaining in the third period as NOHA went on to finish the job behind a 38-save performance from Ben Gaudreau (SAR).
Zacharie Giroux (FLNT) put NOHA up 1-0 after one period before OMHA Black drew even through 40 minutes. Ryan Winterton (HAM) and Ty Anselmini (GUE) found the back of the net for the dark shirts while Josh Kavanagh (PBO) struck on the power play for NOHA in the middle frame.
Ethan Lindsay (OS) and Matier swapped third period goals before Walker finished things off in overtime.
Gaudreau was the difference maker in this one, steering NOHA to victory despite their being outshot 41-25.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
NOHA: Max McCue (LDN) – 2A
OMHA BLACK: Ryan Winterton (HAM) – 1G
HEO OVERPOWERS HNO IN THURSDAY NIGHTCAP
HEO 4 (1-0-0-0) – HNO 1 (0-1-0-0)
Mason McTavish (PBO) got things started 2:51 into action and Team HEO never looked back, skating to a 4-1 victory over Team HNO to wrap-up Thursday’s action at the OHL Gold Cup.
Stuart Rolofs (LDN) scored twice while Giovanni Morneau (OTT) also capitalized as HEO outshot HNO 36-14.
Noah Broughton scored the lone goal for HNO in the loss as they were outshot 36-14.
Patrick Leaver (OSH) made 13 saves in the win for his club.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
HEO: Stuart Rolofs (LDN) – 2G
HNO: Gage Stewart – 32 SV
For full coverage of the 2019 OHL Gold Cup, click here.
