Chris Sekelyk and Keegan Blasby contributed their third-straight multi-point outings and rookie goaltender Jacob Hutchings made 30 stops as the North York Rangers cruised past the Orangeville Flyers 4-1 Sunday afternoon at Victoria Village Arena.
Captain Kyle Clarke’s jam-in goal at the 12:21-mark of the first period was his first of the season, and stood up as the game winner as the Rangers will now prepare for the league-wide showcase event in Buffalo, beginning with a Sept. 26 afternoon clash with the Whitby Fury.
Rookie Joey Maziarz found himself in tons of space in the high slot 5:09 into the contest on the power play, snipped home past Orangeville starter Marcus Paulino.
Liam Winslow of the Flyers fired home a shortside shot with under three minutes remaining in the opening period to cut North York lead in half, in response to Clarke’s marker.
Orangeville first-year man Nathan Torchia took over to start the second period in net, and was absolutely brilliant, making stop after stop from point-blank range as the Flyers were badly outchanced in the middle frame.
His efforts were wasted, however, as Sekelyk brilliantly took the puck from the side of the net and found the smallest sliver of space over Torchia’s left shoulder with five seconds left in the period to give North York a 3-1 lead.
Nick Zanette got his first of the season 2:07 into the third period, getting rewarded for a strong centre-lane drive and a perfect pass from Louis Kereakou.
The Rangers will certainly face their stifest tests of the year thus far at the annual showcase next week, taking on strong east-division foe Whitby at 3 P.M. on the 26th, and then the defending Buckland Cup champion Trenton Golden Hawks at 1:30 the next day.
North York broadcaster Jamie Neugebauer will have the call of both games live from Buffalo on Fasthockey!
Story by Jamie Neugebauer, communications director
Image by OJHL Images
