Day Three Sets Up The Elimination Round

Round robin play finished up at the 2025 Allan Cup Challenge on Tuesday. The two games played had big implications on the playoff seeding for the remainder of the tournament.

The Clarenville Ford Caribous and Stoney Creek Tigers kicked off the day’s action at the Harry Howell Arena. Both teams started off cautiously in the first period with neither team finding the scoreboard, but Andrew Paul scored a shorthanded marker for the Caribous with 11:55 to go in the middle stanza.

In the third, it was all Clarenville as they scored four times, including goals by Jesse Sutton and Ryan Semple 35 seconds apart in the first two minutes of the period. Semple would pick up his second of the contest and tournament at 11:27. Danny Wicks closed out the scoring for the Caribous on the power play, taking advantage of one of their man advantages.

AJ Whiffen stopped all 38 shots he faced in net for the Caribous for the victory, while Stoney Creek’s Daniel Svedin allowed 5 goals on 38 shots.

With the victory, the Clarenville clinches first place in the division and advance to Friday’s semifinal and Stoney Creek finishes second and will be playing in the quarterfinals on Wednesday afternoon.

The late game saw the host Wentworth Gryphins facing off against the Minto 81’s. Like the earlier game, the winner of the game would secure first place in the division.

Wentworth opened the scoring late in the opening period when Matt MacLeod found the back of the net. The 81’s would get the equalizer just 54 seconds into the second period on Mason Kohn’s goal. However, Cory Conacher regained the one goal lead for the Gryphins just ten minutes later which set up a big 20 minutes of play.

The teams played end to end hockey in the third, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Minto was able to even the score on Kohn’s second of the contest, when he deeked around Dawson Carty who went for a poke check at 9:38. Not even a minute later the 81’s nearly took their first lead of the game, but the shot rang off the far goal post.

Both squads had chances, but it wasn’t until 17:41 that Minto picked off a clearing pass which resulted on a three-on-two and Caleb Warren scored from the slot to gain 81’s first lead of the contest, shocking many in attendance. Wentworth would pull their netminder with 78 seconds left in regulation and put the pressure on but were unable to score.

Jonathan Reinhart picked up the win for Minto, making 42 saves on 44 shots he faced. For the Gryphins, Dawson Carty made 20 saves on 23 shots in the loss. Credit to both goaltenders that stood on their head making brilliant saves, keeping their respective squads in the game.

The victory for Minto means they will get the bye to Friday’s semifinal game while the Gryphins will play in the quarterfinals.

Wednesday will see the start of the elimination games for the Allan Cup Challenge. The day will start with the St. John’s Rooftech Capitals facing the Stoney Creek Tigers at 3:30pm. Then at 7:30pm, the Dundas Real McCoys will play the Wentworth Gryphins. Both games are at the Harry Howell Arena. The winners of both quarterfinal games will advance to the semis on Friday.

Upcoming Games
Wednesday April 23 - Quarterfinals
St. John’s vs Stoney Creek – 3:30pm
Dundas vs Wentworth – 7:30pm

Friday April 25 – Semifinals
QF Winner vs Clarenville – 3:30pm
QF Winner vs Minto – 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