Gryphins Soar Past Saints In Season Opener

The 2026-27 Allan Cup Hockey League season got underway Thursday night, with the back-to-back defending champion Wentworth Gryphins erupting for ten goals in a 10-2 win over the St. Catharines Saints at Harry Howell Arena. Matt MacLeod, Riley MacRae and Alex Hutchings each scored twice for the home side, and Hutchings led the way with five points.

Both teams started tentatively before the Gryphins broke through late in the opening period, with MacLeod scoring twice, 51 seconds apart, in the final minute of play. Elijah Roberts made it 3-0 with just over five minutes left in the second, a goal that proved to be the game-winner. The Saints answered just before the end of the period when Ryan Donovan beat the Wentworth netminder.

The third period brought eight goals, seven of them from the Gryphins. Hutchings and MacRae each scored twice in the frame, and Mark Cooper, So Ito and Ryan Foss added the rest. Johnny Curran scored the lone Saints goal of the period at 9:35.

Joe Murdaca earned the win for Wentworth with 16 saves, while Devon Popp stopped 37 of 47 shots in the Saints’ net.

The Gryphins return to the ice Thursday, October 29th at 7:30pm, when they host the Stoney Creek Tigers, the team they beat in last season’s league final. St. Catharines heads home to host the Dundas Real McCoys on Saturday, October 24th at the Merritton Centennial Arena, with puck drop set for 7:30pm.

Scoring
1^st Period
Wentworth – Matt MacLeod (1), Alex Hutchings – 19:06
Wentworth – Matt MacLeod (2), Alex Hutchings, Ryan Foss – 19:57

2^nd Period
Wentworth – Elijah Roberts (1), Tyler VanKleef, Mark Corbett – 14:42
St. Catharines – Ryan Donovan (1), Johnny Curran – 19:59

3^rd Period
Wentworth – Alex Hutchings (1), Ryan Foss, Eric Diodati – 5:02
Wentworth – Riley MacRae (1), Tate Popple – 7:34
St. Catharines – Johnny Curran (1), unassisted – 9:35
Wentworth – Riley MacRae (2), Tate Popple – 12:18
Wentworth – Mark Cooper (1), Matt Hore – 14:21
Wentworth – Alex Hutchings (2), Ryan Foss, Matt MacLeod – 14:41
Wentworth – So Ito (1), unassisted – 18:53
Wentworth – Ryan Foss (1), Alex Hutchings, Mark Corbett – 19:18

Upcoming Games
Friday October 23
Dundas at Cambridge – 7:45pm | Galt Arena Gardens

Saturday October 24
Cambridge at Stoney Creek – 6:30pm | Stoney Creek Arena
Dundas at St. Catharines – 7:30pm | Merritton Centennial Arena

Thursday October 29
Stoney Creek at Wentworth – 7:30pm | Harry Howell Arena

Thursday November 5
Dundas at Wentworth – 7:30pm | Harry Howell Arena

Friday November 6
St. Catharines at Cambridge – 7:45pm | Galt Arena Gardens

Saturday November 7
St. Catharines at Stoney Creek – 6:30pm | Stoney Creek Arena

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