Tigers Survive Double OT Thriller To Reach The Finals

This year's Allan Cup Challenge has seen some amazing hockey being played. However, on Wednesday night, the Clarenville Ford Caribous and Stoney Creek Tigers put on what will likely be not just the game of the year, but the game in Allan Cup history, as the teams went to double overtime. In the second extra frame, Dan Poliziani scored to send the Tigers to the championship game on Saturday afternoon.

It was Stoney Creek who would get on the board first, 8:18 into the game, when Dylan Madge picked up Kyle Essery's wraparound pass and knocked the puck in for the 1-0 lead. That lead lasted just over three minutes when Adam Dawe came out from behind the net and was hooked, but he was able to get the puck to Kyle Robinson who went over the blocker to even the game at a goal apiece. And that was how the period ended.

In the second, Clarenville took full control of the game. Brett Shute gave the Caribous their first lead of the game at 5:19 after taking a cross-crease pass from Kevin Reid and putting it into the net. Then two minutes later, Nicholas D'Agostino stole the puck off a Clarenville defender but was initially stymied before collecting his own rebound and wrapping it around to tie the game at two. The Caribous regained their lead at 9:18 when Dawe took a chip pass off the boards and sent it to Jordan Escott who tucked it in.

Five minutes later, Justin Pender sent a stretch pass to Evan White, who had just escaped the penalty box, and went in on a breakaway, finding the five-hole on Matt Sagrott to give Clarenville a two-goal cushion headed into the break.

For the first half of the third, the game remained a two-goal differential until D'Agostino stole the puck once again and took it to the net, scoring at 10:02. The goal energized the Stoney Creek bench, which led to Cole Poliziani's tap-in goal after an Essery cross-crease pass at 13:38 to tie the game once again, this time at four.

The Caribous controlled much of the play in the first overtime period, including some great chances while they had the man advantage twice in the extra frame, but neither team would score, sending the game to double overtime. In that second extra period, it took just 39 seconds for the Tigers to score when the Poliziani brothers hooked up for the game winner, with Dan Poliziani's slapper from the point finding the back of the net.

Matt Sagrott made his first start of the tournament for the Tigers, allowing four goals on 41 shots in the victory, while in the Caribous' crease, Michael Canning faced 40 shots, saving 35 of them in the loss.

With the victory, Stoney Creek will advance directly to Saturday's championship game at 4:30 p.m. (3:00 p.m. Eastern), which will be available across Canada on CHCH TV and worldwide on AO Live. For Clarenville, they still remain in the hunt for senior hockey's top trophy, as they will head to the semi-finals and play the winner of Thursday night's quarter-final between the Wentworth Gryphins and Conception Bay Senior Blues. Both the quarter-final and semi-final games are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (6:00 p.m. Eastern).

Rod Black returns this year to call the Allan Cup semi-final and championship games. During Friday night's semi-final, he will be joined by Dundas Real McCoys owner Don Robertson, who will provide colour commentary. For Saturday's championship game, former NHLer Terry Ryan will join Black in the broadcast booth to provide insight.

All games can be streamed through AO Live.

Fans can stay up-to-date with all the scores, stats and news on the 2026 Allan Cup website.

Scoring
1^st Period
Tigers – Dylan Madge (1), Kyle Essery, Nicolas D’Agostino | 8:18
Caribous – Kyle Robinson (1), Adam Dawe, Shane Dominie | 11:55

2^nd Period
Caribous – Brett Shute (1), Kevin Reid | 5:19
Tigers – Nicolas D’Agostino (1), Unassisted | 7:24
Caribous – Jordan Escott (3), Adam Dawe, Graham Oldfield | 9:18
Caribous – Evan White (1), Justin Pender | 14:18

3^rd Period
Tigers – Nicolas D’Agostino (2), Unassisted| 10:02
Tigers – Cole Poliziani (1), Kyle Essery | 13:38

Overtime
No Scoring

Overtime 2
Tigers – Dan Poliziani (1), Cole Poliziani, Kyle Essery | 0:39

Upcoming Schedule
Playoffs (Eastern Time)
Thursday, April 23
GM 8 – Wentworth vs Conception Bay – 6:00pm

Friday, April 24
GM 9 – Winner GM 8 vs Clarenville – 6:00pm

Saturday, April 25
GM 10 – Winner GM9 vs Stoney Creek – 3:00pm

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