Hutchings And Conacher Lead Gryphins To Victory

It was a battle of the two top teams in the Allan Cup Hockey league on Thursday night as the Wentworth Gryphins hosted the Stoney Creek Tigers. Both teams sported a 5-2-0 record heading into the contest and the winner taking sole possession of first place. This was the fourth of six meetings on the year with the Tigers leading the season series 2-1, but on this night the Gryphins would come away with a hard fought 9-5 win to even the regular season series.

The game started out with a defensive battle as neither team could find the back of the net. However, over the final 3:13 of the opening period the teams would combine for four goals. Remy Giftopoulos and Kyle Lewis scored 72 seconds apart for the 2-0 lead for Wentworth. Dave Russell replied with his first of the season for the Tigers to get within a goal with 46 seconds remaining. Brett Flemming capped of the scoring in the first and regained the two-goal lead for the Gryphins with 16 ticks left on the clock.

In the second, the scoring continued almost at will. Paul Geiger got the Creek back within a goal 34 seconds into the frame before Alex Hutchings netted a pair of goals and Marc-Anthony Simonetta potted the eventual game winner for Wentworth. The teams would then trade goals before the end of the period with the visitors getting one from Jordan Gignac and the home side getting one from Cory Conacher to give the Gryphins a 7-3 lead through 40 minutes of play.

The teams continued to trade goals in the final 20 minutes. Cole Poliziani and Cordell James found the back of the net at 2:13 and 11:44 respectively for Stoney Creek while Tyler Vankleef and Conacher scoring at 8:46 and 19:27 respectively, with the former being a power play marker and the latter while shorthanded.

Joseph Murdaca picked up his second consecutive win in as many starts, stopping 35 of 40 shots he faced. Tymen Edelkoort took the loss, making 33 saves on the night.

Stoney Creek is back in action on Friday night when they head to the J.L. Grightmire Arena in Dundas to face the Real McCoys starting at 7:30pm. The Gryphins will back on home ice at the Harry Howell Arena next Thursday against the McCoys, also starting at 7:30pm.

NOTES
Stoney Creek’s Jordan Gignac and Wentworth’s Alex Hutchings now lead the league with nine goals.

Hutchings also leads the ACHL with 17 points on the campaign, one point ahead of Stoney Creek’s Cordell James.

Brett Flemming, Remy Giftopoulos, both with the Gryphins, and the Tigers’ Cordell James all have a league leading nine assists.

Upcoming Games
Friday January 24, 2025
Stoney Creek vs Dundas – 7:30pm

Sunday January 26, 2025
Durham (OEHL) vs Dundas – 2:30pm

Thursday January 30, 2025
Dundas vs Wentworth – 7:30pm

Thursday February 6, 2025
Stoney Creek vs Wentworth – 7:30pm

Saturday February 8, 2025
Dundas vs Stoney Creek – 6:30pm

Saturday February 15, 2025
Wentworth vs 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