Donovan’s Hat Trick Leads To Victory

St. Catharines played their second home game of the season, hosting their expansion cousins, the Cambridge Hornets with both teams looking to end their losing streak. On this night, it was the Saints who ended their losing streak by winning the franchise’s first game in the Allan Cup Hockey League, taking the game 7-3.

Fans were still settling into their seats after the anthem when the Saints’ Ryan Donovan found the back of the net just 27 seconds into the game for the early 1-0 lead. Just four minutes later Donovan picked up his second of the night. However, Cambridge would respond 38 seconds later to cut the lead back to one on Nathan Herrington’s second of the year. As the clock was winding down in the period, the Hornets picked up a goal from Matt Crane at 17:30 to even the score and then the go-ahead goal with 45 seconds left off the stick of Chad Herron.

In the second, Donovan completed his hat trick at 4:42, evening the score at three. It remained that way until the 14:21 mark when Matthew Riva scored on the power play. His first goal of the year would later turn out to be the game winner for St. Catharines.

The third period would be marred by penalties, seeing the teams combining for 64 penalty minutes with 34 of them coming on one stoppage of play. St. Catharines would score three times in the final period to preserve the victory with David Pacan, Cial Cirillo and Connor Walters picking up the markers.

Trevor Micucci backstopped the Saints to the win, making 42 saves in the process. Brady Vickery would take the loss for Cambridge, stopping 30 of 37 shots.

The Hornets will look to end their four-game losing streak when they next hit to the ice on Friday, November 28^th when they host the Dundas Real McCoys starting at 8:00pm. St. Catharines next game will be on home ice when they faceoff against the league leading Stoney Creek Tigers on Saturday, November 29^th at 7:30pm.

Upcoming Games
Friday November 28
Dundas at Cambridge – 8:00pm

Saturday November 29
Stoney Creek at St. Catharines – 7:30pm

Thursday December 4
Dundas at Wentworth - 7:30pm

Friday December 5
Cambridge at Dundas – 7:30pm

Saturday December 6
Cambridge at Stoney Creek – 6:30pm
Wentworth at St. Catharines – 7:30pm

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