Trojans win first game at Telus Cup, defeat Kings 4-2

Trojans’ forward Colby Vranai was a primary factor on his team’s two first period goals, stripping the puck from a King behind the net and feeding it to MacKenzie Carson, then cutting in front of the net on a power play and scoring on the backhand.

After the first period, the Trojans led 2-0 and outshot the Kings 18-3. It all seemed to be going swimmingly until late in the second period.

Goaltender Tanner Martin and defenceman Luke Arndt crossed signals on a quick pass, before Kings’ forward Mason Bazaluk intercepted the pass and centred for Peter Hannula to make it a 2-1 game with six minutes left in the second.

Thirty-two seconds into the third, the Kings tied the game when Nicholas DeGrazia put home the rebound after an Anthony Biniaris shot from the point during a four-on-three power play.

Suddenly, the Trojans had their backs against the wall and faced the threat of starting the Telus Cup with an 0-2 record.

One minute later, Trojans’ forward Trenton Curtis intercepted a pass at the Kings’ blue line, and a give-and-go with linemate Kalen Ukrainetz later, he wristed the puck and gave the Trojans a 3-2 lead.

Darrell Mann, Trojans head coach, told northeastNOW his bench knew the early 3-2 lead in the third would last throughout the game.

“Just jubilation on the bench,” Mann said. “We’ve been good with the one-goal lead and we knew when we got that lead, we were like ‘OK, it’s time to shut it down,’ and I thought our guys did an amazing job of doing that once again.”

Jayden Wiens fired the puck into an empty net late and the Trojans got their first win in Telus Cup play 4-2.

Injury

Centre Davis Chorney received a kneeing penalty during the Trojans’ 6-0 loss to the Magog Cantonniers on April 22. Chroney finished the game but couldn’t suit up for the Trojans’ second round robin game.

“Hopefully Davis is day by day here,” Mann said. “We’re hoping we can have him back tomorrow. But if it’s not tomorrow, hopefully in the near future.”

Mann said Chorney will visit a doctor today to get some more work done on his knee. Chorney with sixth in Trojans scoring with 16 goals and 15 assists in 42 regular season games and led Western Regionals in goal scoring with four in four games.

Post-season debut

With Chorney out of action, one young Trojan was able to take advantage of an opportunity.

Drayton Hvidston, a 15-year-old defenceman, was one of two alternate players to travel with the Trojans to the Telus Cup in case of an injury occurring. He played five regular season games with the Trojans but made his midget AAA hockey post-season debut at the Telus Cup.

“It was absolutely great to get Drayton in,” Mann said. “He’s a great character kid that’s been practising with us for the last six weeks. He didn’t play a lot, but when he did, he made some good plays; jumped in the rush and had a really good chance on net. He definitely didn’t hurt us in the backend and gives us some more depth.”

Telus Cup Day Two Scoreboard

Magog Cantonniers (Quebec) 3 – Halifax Macs (Atlantic) 1

Calgary Buffaloes (Pacific) 1 – Toronto Young Nationals (Central) 3

Tisdale Trojans (West) 4 – Thunder Bay Kings (Host) 2

Telus Cup Day Two Standings

1) Magog Cantonniers (Quebec) 2-0-0 4 Points +8 GD (9 GF, 1 GA)

T-2) Calgary Buffaloes (Pacific) 1-1-0 2 Points +1 GD (8 GF, 7 GA)

T-2) Toronto Young Nationals (Central) 1-1-0 2 Points +1 GD (4 GF, 3 GA)

T-2) Halifax Macs (Atlantic) 1-1-0 2 Points -1 GD (3 GF, 4 GA)

T-2) Tisdale Trojans (West) 1-1-0 2 Points -4 GD (4 GF, 8 GA)

6) Thunder Bay Kings (Host) 0-2-0 0 Points -5 GD (6 GF, 11 GA)

Two days into the Telus Cup, and all but one team have at least one win.

If the Trojans didn’t beat the Kings on April 23, their record would be 0-2 and they would have a tough task to be one of the top four teams to qualify for the semifinals on Saturday, April 27.

“It was a desperate game for both hockey teams,” Mann said. “It’s one of those tournaments where anybody can win. Magog is very skilled, and they have two victories, but I see them having a couple of tough opponents coming up here the rest of the week. You don’t want to get yourself dug in a hole and we did a great job of making sure we’re 1-1. Hopefully we can carry that momentum over tomorrow against Halifax.”

Looking Ahead – Day Three Schedule (All SCT)

10 a.m. – Calgary Buffaloes (Pacific) 1-1-0 v. Magog Cantonniers (Quebec) 2-0-0

2 p.m. – Halifac Macs (Atlantic) 1-1-0 v. Tisdale Trojans (West) 1-1-0

5:30 p.m. – Thunder Bay Kings (Host) 0-2-0 v. Toronto Young Nationals (Central) 1-1-0

With two days of the Telus Cup wrapped up, all six teams have had two games of scouting on each opponent they haven’t played yet.

The Trojans faced an unknown team in the Magog Cantonniers and got caught in a 6-0 loss, before defeating a more familiar foe in the Thunder Bay Kings.

Now the Trojans will face a fellow regional champion in the Halifax Macs with two games – a win and a loss – to see what they’re all about.

“I expect a typical Tisdale Trojans game,” Mann said. “They trap all night and they’re not going to us an inch. We’re going to have to adjust and attack their trap and create some offence, as they seem to create their offence off the turnovers. They’re a team like some that we’ve seen in our league before; they’ve got great goaltending, defence, and they’re a team that doesn’t score a lot, kind of like us.”

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow

by Aaron Schulze

Trojans win first game at Telus Cup, defeat Kings 4-2

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