Written by: Matthew Isakow
Last Friday the Rangers started a road trip the same place they’ll finish their road trip this Friday, in Trenton against the Golden Hawks.
Trailing 1-0 midway through the first, Matthew Babiy would score his 4th goal of the young campaign drawing the teams even. Trenton would score 1 more before the end of the opening frame and the Rangers went into the 2nd period down 2-1.
The Golden Hawks scored twice in less than a minute to build up a 4-1 lead, before the Rangers answered with two goals from Charlie Hotles (1) and Jacob Owsicki (2) 10 seconds apart and the Rangers were down 5-3 after two.
But North York mustered up just 4 shots on goal in the final frame, unable to beat Trenton goalie Brady Spry eventually falling 9-3. Amir Valiullin making 50 saves for the Rangers in the loss.
Then began two of the most exciting games to date this season. North York matched up with the Mississauga Chargers for their first game at the Governors Showcase at the Gale Centre in Niagara.
Late in the first with the Rangers down 1-0, Charlie Hotles (2) continued his hot stretch of play with a powerplay marker as this one entered the second period tied 1-1. In the middle frame Mississauga scored 3 straight to start the period before Jacob Owsicki (3) scored in the final 90 seconds of the period cutting the deficit to 4-2 entering the third.
Mississauga scored 6 seconds into the frame, and it took over 15 minutes before anyone else got on the score sheet when Cain Tucker (2) buried the Rangers second powerplay goal of the game for North York. Unfortunately the only other goal was Aidan Walsh scoring his third of the game for the Chargers who went on to win 6-3. Dylan Dewachter stopped 35 shots in the loss.
Game 2 of the Governors Showcase was not only the Rangers last game of the event, but it was the last game of the entire event. North York taking on the King Rebellion in a slow but extremely competitive game. Scoreless through 20, the Rebellion would break the tie midway through the second, and that would go on to be the game winning goal, with the Rebellion adding an empty netter with 10 seconds left to give them a 2-0 win.
North York now sits tied for 10th in the East with a 1-9 record, with two games on tap this weekend.
Friday @ Trenton (6-1, 1st in East)
Sunday vs Aurora (1-5, 10th in East)
Fast Facts
Wednesdays game against the King Rebellion marked the first time the teams have ever faced with King joining the league this past offseason.
Charlie Hotles scored his first career goal September 20th against Trenton. The Niagara Ice Dogs draft pick has 4 points in his last 4 games.
Matthew Babiy’s goal against Trenton tied him for the team lead in goals with Peter Smith. Both have scored 4 times.
Babiy’s 4 goals are good enough to put him tied for 5th among rookies this season.
Amir Valiullin making 50 saves against Trenton was the second game this season he has made at least 50 saves.
Valiullin has made 289 saves this season, more than any other goalie in the OJHL.
Cole Bowditch sits tied for 4th among defenceman in assists on the season with 8.
