Essery's Late Goal Sends Tigers to Game 5

The Allan Cup Hockey League's Robertson Cup Finals series is going the distance. The Stoney Creek Tigers edged the Wentworth Gryphins 5-4 on Thursday night at the Harry Howell Arena to force a fifth and deciding game on Saturday night. Unlike the previous three games in the series, this one was settled in regulation — but it was yet another one-goal thriller, with Kyle Essery providing the heroics late in the third period.

Both squads generated great chances in the opening seven minutes, but neither side could break through until 9:18, when Cory Caruso tapped a puck into the open side of the net to give the Gryphins the early lead. Wentworth had an excellent opportunity to double their advantage late in the frame on the power play, but Tigers defenseman Jayme Forslund came up with a key block to keep it a one-goal game heading into the intermission.

The Gryphins extended their lead at 2:17 of the second period when Remy Giftopoulos fired a shot from the point that floated into the top of the net on the power play. Just two minutes later, Jason Popek's shot trickled through Daniel Svedin's five-hole to make it 3-0 for the home side. Then something clicked for Stoney Creek. With a delayed penalty called against Wentworth, the Tigers pushed the puck up ice and Mike Ruberto's long shot beat a screened Matthew Camilleri to get Stoney Creek on the board. Ruberto doubled his total at 8:47, tipping home a cross-crease pass from Josh Pietrantonio to make it 3-2. That goal would give Ruberto the new league record of 38 career postseason goals, passing Dundas' Brad Bonello.

Stoney Creek appeared to draw level shortly after, only to be denied by the crossbar — but the equalizer wasn't far off. Bo Webster tied the game at three at 14:59, his shot from the top of the faceoff circle going bar-down. And before the period could expire, Pietrantonio gave the Tigers their first lead of the night, collecting a rebound in a crowd in front of the net and poking it home with just six seconds remaining on the power play.

The Gryphins responded just over five minutes into the third, when Ryan Foss picked up a loose puck and poked it into the open side of the net to tie the game at four. With just under six minutes to go in regulation, Wentworth had a golden chance to retake the lead as the Tigers were penalized for too many men on the ice — but the power play was cut short when the Gryphins took a penalty of their own. As the clock wound down, overtime seemed inevitable for the fourth time in the series. But with 2:13 remaining, Essery tipped a Webster pass past Camilleri to give Stoney Creek the victory and send the series to a deciding fifth game.

Svedin earned the win, turning aside 38 shots, moving him one victory away from tying Mike Mole's ACHL record for goaltender victories in the postseason. Camilleri stopped 22 of 27 shots in the loss for Wentworth.

Everything will be on the line Saturday, April 4th, as the fifth and deciding game will be played at the Stoney Creek Arena, with the winner being crowned the 2026 Robertson Cup Champions. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, April 4 – Game 5
Wentworth at Stoney Creek – 6:30pm

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