2025 Allan Cup Challenge Underway

Stoney Creek and Wentworth picked up victories on Easter Sunday as the 2025 Allan Cup Challenge tournament got underway at the Harry Howell Arena in Flamborough, Ontario.

The first game of the tournament saw familiar foes take the ice as the Stoney Creek Tigers and defending Allan Cup Champion Dundas Real McCoys faced off against each other. Neither team would be able to find the back of the net in the opening 20 minutes of play, but the Tigers got things rolling in the second.

Dominik Crnogorac and Dylan Madge each scored in the middle frame for a two-goal lead for the Tigers, with the latter coming while the team was shorthanded. Then in third, Cole Poliziani extended the lead to three just before the half-way point of the period. That goal would stand up to be the winner as Dundas came back with a shorthanded marker by Mackenzie Wood at 14:50 before a power play goal by Justin DaSilva with 2:25 remaining in regulation.

Daniel Svedin would pick up the win in the Tigers crease, making 36 saves on 38 shots, while Ryan Demelo took the loss, allowing three goals on 39 shots.

In the primetime game, the host Wentworth Gyphins were able to protect home ice against a late push from the St. John’s Rooftech Capitals.

Wentworth took a two-goal lead on the Capitals thanks to a first period goal from Tyler Vankleef and a second period goal by Alex Hutchings. St. John’s would get on the board and cut the lead to one goal on Jordan Escott’s goal with 35 seconds left in the middle stanza.

In the third, Darroll Powe gave the Gryphins a two-goal lead once again, but Kyle McGrath scored on the power play, getting the Capitals back within one. A couple minutes later Cory Conacher scored a power play goal for Wentworth with 12:49 to go in regulation. Escott would score on the power play to get within one, but St. John’s was not able to get the equalizer before the final horn.

Joseph Murdaca made 33 saves in the contest for Wentworth in the win, while Kyle Downer took the loss for the Capitals, stopping 24 of 28 shots he faced in 58 minutes of play.

Prior to the start of the second game, all six teams participated in the tournament’s opening ceremonies.

Round robin games continue at the Harry Howell Arena in Flamborough on Monday with the Dundas Real McCoys taking on the Clarenville Ford Caribous at 3:30pm. Then at 7:30pm, The Minto 81’s will faceoff against the St. John’s Rooftech Capitals.

Upcoming Games
Monday April 21
Dundas vs Clarenville – 3:30pm
Minto vs St. John’s – 7:30pm

Tuesday April 22
Clarenville vs Stoney Creek – 3:30pm
Wentworth vs Minto – 7:30pm

Wednesday April 23 - Quarterfinals
Division Two 3^rd Place vs Division One 2^nd Place – 3:30pm
Division One 3^rd Place vs Division Two 2^nd Place – 7:30pm

Friday April 25 – Semifinals
QF Winner vs Division One 1^st Place – 3:30pm
QF Winner vs Division Two 1^st Place – 7:30pm

Saturday April 26 – Championship
SF Winner vs SF Winner – 3:00pm

The Allan Cup Challenge runs April 20^th through the 26^th at the Harry Howell Arena in Flamborough, Ontario, hosted by the Wentworth Gryphins. The Championship game on Saturday April 26^th will be broadcast on CHCH TV as well as online on Parrot TV.

Fans can purchase tickets through the Eventbrite website (click here) or at the door on game day.

About Allan Cup Hockey (ACH) and the Allan Cup

Allan Cup Hockey (ACH), formerly Major League Hockey until 2011, is the top tier Canadian senior ice hockey league in the province of Ontario. Founded in 1990, as the Southwestern Senior “A” Hockey League, the ACH is a member of the Ontario Hockey Association and Hockey Canada. The ACH’s champion contends for the Allan Cup each year.

The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the senior ice hockey champions of Canada. It was donated by Sir Montagu Allan of Ravenscrag, Montreal, and has been competed for since 1909. The current champions are the Dundas Real McCoys, who captured the 2023 and 2024 Allan Cup in Dundas, Ontario.

Follow the Allan Cup Hockey League social media on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and now Bluesky.

For more information contact Allan Cup Hockey Commissioner Rick Richardson at 905-328-4727 or email: rickystar911@outlook.com