Fort William Canadiens U18 'AA'

The Fort William Canadiens wrapped up their Hockey Northwestern Ontario Tournament of Champions, and their season, with a 6-5 shootout win over the Marathon Northern Selects.

Noah Power opened the scoring early in the first period, banging home a powerplay goal for his 22nd of the season.

After the Selects’ Giorgio Figliomeni tied it with a powerplay marker, the Canadiens’ Bradley Kaemingh netted his 26th of the season. Tanner Taylor evened the score late in the first period for the Selects.

In the second period, the Canadiens scored twice, with Connor Larrett finishing a Cole Bodnar pass followed by a Bodnar goal on the powerplay, his 16th of the year.

The start of the third period was all Selects, with Royce Abraham, Ethan Albert and Jackson Ruth all scoring to make it 5-4 Selects.

Late in the third period, Larrett scored his 35th of the season to tie the game at 5-5. The Canadiens pulled the goalie for the final two minutes in an attempt to win in regulation but neither team scored.

In the shootout, Power and Kaemingh scored and Nicolas Pavletic stopped both shooters to give the Canadiens the victory. It was Pavletic’s 10th win of the season.

Notes: The Canadiens were 2-5 on the powerplay while the Selects were 2-4; The Canadiens were without Jarek Francoeur; The Canadiens finished the season 20-0-2 when leading after two periods; The Canadiens scored and gave up 162 goals over the 54 game season; The Current River Comets and Marathon Northern Selects will meet in the final on Sunday afternoon after both teams won their semifinals on Saturday evening.

Boxscore:

Game #54: HNO Tournament of Champions
Saturday March 18/23 – Fort William Gardens

Fort William Canadiens 6 Marathon Northern Selects 5 (SO)

Score By Period
Team  1  2  3  SO T 
Fort William Canadiens 2 2 1 1 6
Marathon Northern Selects 2 0 3 0 5

Summary
First Period
1. FWC Power 22nd (Larrett, Ahtila) 4:21 PP
2. MNS Figliomeni (Abraham) 7:53 PP
3. FWC Kaemingh 26th (Neufeld) 9:40
4. MNS Taylor (Warren, Moysey) 12:09
Penalties: MNS Albert (Unsportsmanlike conduct) 3:58; FWC Joubert (Slashing) 7:24

Second Period
5. FWC Larrett 34th (Bodnar, Kaemingh) 0:18
6. FWC Bodnar 16th (Reid) 3:31 PP
Penalties: MNS Moysey (Head contact double minor) 1:46; FWC Reid (Tripping) 7:44; MNS Moysey (Charging), FWC Neufeld (Unsportsmanlike conduct) 11:08

Third Period
7. MNS Abraham (Moysey) 1:46
8. MNS Albert (Warren) 3:45
9. MNS Ruth (Speziale) 5:32 PP
10. FWC Larrett 35th (Kaemingh, Power) 13:40
Penalties: FWC Greaves (Slashing) 4:23; MNS Moysey (Head contact) 8:50; MNS Speziale (Slashing) 12:21; FWC Ahtila (Head contact double minor) 13:02

Shootout
FWC Power – Goal
MNS Warren – No Goal
FWC Larrett – No Goal
MNS Abraham – No Goal
FWC Kaemingh – Goal

Goaltenders  MP GA  Dec 
FWC Nicolas Pavletic 43 5 Win
FWC Empty net 2 0 -
MNS Kayo Lake 45 6 Loss

Power plays: (goals-chances) Canadiens 2-5; Selects 2-4

The Fort William Canadiens grabbed a win and a loss on day two of the Hockey Northwestern Ontario Tournament of Champions, falling 5-3 to the Volunteer Pool Bearcats before defeating the West End Bruins in the nightcap 2-0.

In the opener, the Bearcats’ Eric Blazino opened the scoring on a two on one break. Bradley Kaemingh gave the Canadiens a 2-1 lead, scoring back to back powerplay goals before the Bearcats’ Ethan Buckell and Daniel Lombardo responded to give the Bearcats a 3-2 lead at the end of the first period.

Late in the second period, the Bearcats’ Cayden Oborne scored on a breakaway but Kaemingh responded just over a minute later, scoring his third of the game and 25th of the season to end the second period with a 4-3 Bearcats lead.

The Bearcats’ Blazino ended the scoring with an empty net goal.

In the evening game, the Canadiens’ Cole Bodnar netted his 15th of the season, pushing home a puck at the side of the net after Nathan Greaves took the puck to the net from the right wing.

Late in the second period, Connor Larrett scored his 33rd of the season to extend the lead to 2-0.

There was no scoring in the third period, giving Jackson Andraka the shutout victory.

Notes: Ewan Reid and Larrett both had multiple assists in the opening game; Larrett’s point in the evening game gave him 100 career points with the Canadiens, the 12th player to reach the milestone in the past 21 seasons; After three games for all teams, the Bruins, Bearcats, Current River Comets and Northern Selects all sit with six points, while the Canadiens have three points and the Fort Frances Canadians have zero points; The round robin concludes early Saturday afternoon, with the top four teams meeting in the semifinals Saturday evening.

Boxscore:

Game #52: HNO Tournament of Champions
Friday March 17/23 – Delaney Arena

Fort William Canadiens 3 Volunteer Pool Bearcats 5

Score By Period
Team  1  2  3  T 
Fort William Canadiens 2 1 0 3
Volunteer Pool Bearcats 3 1 1 5

Summary
First Period
1. VP Blazino (McGraw, Buckell) 1:17
2. FWC Kaemingh 23rd (Larrett, Reid) 3:52 PP
3. FWC Kaemingh 24th (Larrett, Ahtila) 8:58 PP
4. VP Buckell (Little) 10:57
5. VP Lombardo (Polonoski) 12:36
Penalties: VP Halstead (Tripping) 3:44; VP McGraw (Crosschecking) 4:07; VP Buckell (Tripping) 8:03

Second Period
6. VP Oborne 12:08
7. FWC Kaemingh 25th (Reid) 13:16
Penalties: FWC Larrett (Unsportsmanlike conduct) 0:29; FWC Francoeur (Hooking) 3:13

Third Period
8. VP Blazino 14:59 EN
Penalties: None

Goaltenders  MP GA  Dec 
FWC Nicolas Pavletic 43 4 Loss
FWC Empty net 2 1 -
VP Luca Verardo 45 3 Win

Power plays: (goals-chances) Canadiens 2-3; Bearcats 0-2

Boxscore:

Game #53: HNO Tournament of Champions
Friday March 17/23 – Fort William Gardens

Fort William Canadiens 2 West End Bruins 0

Score By Period
Team  1  2  3  T 
Fort William Canadiens 1 1 0 2
West End Bruins 0 0 0 0

Summary
First Period
1. FWC Bodnar 15th (Greaves, Otway) 8:26
Penalties: None

Second Period
2. FWC Larrett 33rd (Power, Kaemingh) 11:50
Penalties: WE Sargent (Charging) 1:49; FWC Greaves (Slashing) 7:34; WE MacKay (Slashing) 14:22; FWC Francoeur (Match penalty) 15:00

Third Period
No scoring
Penalties: WE Nigro (Slashing) 2:44; WE Hordy (Unsportsmanlike conduct), FWC Neufeld (Unsportsmanlike conduct) 6:58; WE Sargent (Charging) 7:26; WE MacKay (Holding) 8:47; FWC Caddo (Crosschecking) 13:45

Goaltenders  MP GA  Dec 
FWC Jackson Andraka 45 0 Win
WE Hayden Prior 43 2 Loss
WE Empty net 2 0 -

Power plays: (goals-chances) Canadiens 0-4; Bruins 0-3

By the end of the first period, the Fort William Canadiens trailed by three goals and eventually fell 8-2 to the Current River Comets in the Hockey Northwestern Ontario Tournament of Champions opener.

Just 23 seconds in the game, Jonathan Beaucage made it 1-0. The Canadiens’ Cole Bodnar evened the score at 1-1 midway through the period, firing home his 14th on a long wrist shot that found it’s way into the net.

The Comets would score three consecutive goals in a 2:03 span, with Nolan Desando scoring twice sandwiching a Landon Atkinson goal.

With 3:35 left in the first period, Connor Larrett beat the Comets’ defender wide and fired a pass to Bradley Kaemingh who tipped home his 22nd of the season. Beaucage scored a late powerplay marker to end the first period scoring at 5-2.

John Whitfield scored the final three goals of the game, scoring once in the second period and twice in the third period.

Notes: The Canadiens were 0-3 on the powerplay and we unable to take advantage of a two-man advantage early in the third period. The Comets were 1-2 on the powerplay; This was the Canadiens 51st game and the first loss by five or more goals; In other U18AA action, the West End Bruins defeated the Volunteer Pool Bearcats while the Marathon Northern Selects shutout the Fort Frances Canadians; The Canadiens play the Bearcats and Bruins on Friday.

Boxscore:

Game #51: HNO Tournament of Champions
Thursday March 16/23 – Fort William Gardens

Fort William Canadiens 2 Current River Comets 8

Score By Period
Team  1  2  3  T 
Fort William Canadiens 2 0 0 2
Current River Comets 5 1 2 8

Summary
First Period
1. CR Beaucage (Whitfield, Desando) 0:23
2. FWC Bodnar 14th (Otway) 6:29
3. CR Desando (Duclos) 9:03 SH
4. CR Atkinson (Nelson, Duclos) 9:41
5. CR Desando (Beaucage) 11:06
6. FWC Kaemingh 22nd (Larrett) 11:25
7. CR Beaucage (Whitefield, Hamilton) 14:34 PP
Penalties: CR Rowan (Tripping) 7:26; FWC Caddo (Head contact) 13:14

Second Period
8. CR Whitfield (Desando, Duclos) 10:48
Penalties: None

Third Period
9. CR Whitfield (Beaucage) 3:53
10. CR Whitfield (Beaucage) 9:38
Penalties: CR Desando (Slashing) 0:38; CR Whitfield (Tripping) 1:17; FWC Greaves (Crosschecking) 11:48; CR Brindley (Slashing) 14:43

Goaltenders  MP GA  Dec 
FWC Jackson Andraka 45 8 Loss
CR Matthew Smith 45 2 Win

Power plays: (goals-chances) Canadiens 0-3; Comets 1-2

The Fort William Canadiens ended up on the wrong side of a close battle on Wednesday evening, falling to the Current River Comets 4-2 and being eliminated from the playoffs.

The Comets’ Nolan Desando opened the scoring late in the first period, converting a pass from below the goal line.

Early in the second period, Jonathan Beaucage extended the lead to 2-0 on the powerplay.

The Canadiens responded a couple minutes later, with Joseph Joubert forcing a turnover on the forecheck and Neelix Otway batting home his 12th goal of the season.

Desando would return the lead to two goals, snapping home a goal with 4:28 left in the second period.

Midway through the third period, Connor Larrett netted his 32nd of the season to close the gap to 3-2.

With the Canadiens pressing, the Comets took advantage in the final minute with Darcy Hamilton scoring on a rebound to end the scoring.

Notes: The Canadiens were 0-3 on the powerplay while the Comets were 1-2; The Canadiens were without Cole Rzeszut; This is the second straight season that the Comets have eliminated the Canadiens from the playoffs, with the Comets defeating the Canadiens in the finals in 2022; The Canadiens return to action next week for the Hockey Northwestern Ontario Tournament of Champions; In the early game, the West End Bruins doubled up on the Fort William Hurricanes 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Game #50: Playoffs
Wednesday March 8/23 – Delaney Arena

Fort William Canadiens 2 Current River Comets 4

Score By Period
Team  1  2  3  T 
Fort William Canadiens 0 1 1 2
Current River Comets 1 2 1 4

Summary
First Period
1. CR Desando (Rowan) 11:45
Penalties: None

Second Period
2. CR Beaucage (Whitfield, Hamilton) 2:56 PP
3. FWC Otway 12th (Joubert) 5:41
4. CR Desando (Sherwood) 10:32
Penalties: FWC Ahtila (Interference) 2:27; CR Nelson (Interference) 15:00

Third Period
5. FWC Larrett 32nd 8:26
6. CR Hamilton (Desando, Nelson) 13:47
Penalties: CR Czerwinski (Roughing) 3:06; FWC Francoeur (Roughing, Misconduct) 8:26; CR Beaucage (Slashing) 11:11

Goaltenders  MP GA  Dec 
FWC Nicolas Pavletic 44 4 Loss
FWC Empty net 1 0 -
CR Calum Keating 45 2 Win

Power plays: (goals-chances) Canadiens 0-3; Comets 1-2

The Fort William Canadiens and Current River Comets squared off in game two of the best-of-five semifinal on Monday evening, with the Comets grabbing a 6-3 win.

The Canadiens took the first three penalties of the game and goals were scored during each penalty.

Austin Nelson’s point shot found it’s way through multiple bodies for a first period powerplay goal.

The Canadiens evened the score with a Jarek Francoeur shorthanded goal midway through the second period.

Minutes later, Jonathan Beaucage pushed home a second powerplay goal for the Comets to give them a 2-1 lead heading into the third period.

Midway through the third period, the Comets’ Conner Brindley and Ethan Sherwood both scored to make it 4-1.

The Canadiens showed no quit though, with Francoeur taking a pass through the crease from Cole Bodnar to net his 14th of the season.

With each team serving a penalty and playing four on four, the Canadiens pulled the goalie and Bradley Kaemingh would tip a Julian Neufeld point shot for his 21st of the year and to make it 4-3.

The Comets’ Austin Nelson would score an empty netter followed by a late goal by John Whitfield to end the scoring.

Notes: The Canadiens were 0-2 on the powerplay while the Comets were 2-5; The Canadiens were missing defensemen Cole Rzeszut, Michael Ahtila and William Seaberg; Francoeur and Neufeld both finished with two points; In the early game, the West End Bruins shutout the Fort William Hurricanes 2-0 to even the series at 1-1; The Canadiens and Comets meet in game three on Wednesday evening.

Boxscore:

Game #49: Playoffs
Monday March 6/23 – Delaney Arena

Fort William Canadiens 3 Current River Comets 6

Score By Period
Team  1  2  3  T 
Fort William Canadiens 0 1 2 3
Current River Comets 1 1 4 6

Summary
First Period
1. CR Nelson (Beaucage) 10:35 PP
Penalties: FWC Power (Tripping) 1:00

Second Period
2. FWC Francoeur 13th (Neufeld) 6:45 SH
3. CR Beaucage (Whitfield, Nelson) 10:42 PP
Penalties: CR Czerwinski (Interference) 8:23; CR Desando (Head contact) 10:56; FWC Bench (Too many players) 12:50

Third Period
4. CR Brindley (Sherwood) 5:05
5. CR Sherwood (Wesley, Brindley) 8:31
6. FWC Francoeur 14th (Bodnar) 11:02
7. FWC Kaemingh 21st (Neufeld) 13:31
8. CR Nelson 14:13 EN
9. CR Whitfield (Beaucage, Nelson) 14:36 SH
Penalties: FWC Kaemingh (Hooking) 1:47; CR Rowan (Slashing) 6:46

Goaltenders  MP GA  Dec 
FWC Jackson Andraka 44 5 Loss
FWC Empty net 1 1 -
CR Matthew Smith 45 3 Win

Power plays: (goals-chances) Canadiens 0-2; Comets 2-5