A Strong Second Half Brings Owen Sound To Victory

The Owen Sound NorthStars (3-1) traveled to face the Collingwood Cruise (0-2) at the Meaford Arena, in Meaford, Ontario Saturday night.

The goaltending match-up had Calum Leaver-Preyra in net for Owen Sound facing Oliver Vanyo in net for Collingwood.

The Owen Sound NorthStars used a dominant special teams performance and a strong middle frame to pull away from the Collingwood Cruise for an 8-4 victory. After a tightly contested opening period that ended in a 2-2 deadlock, the game remained up for grabs as Collingwood briefly grabbed the lead early in the second. Owen Sound responded immediately, however, finding another gear offensively and taking control with three unanswered goals late in the period to build a 6-3 advantage heading into the final twenty minutes.

The NorthStars slammed the door early in the third period, striking twice on the power-play in just 44 seconds as Cam Sanderson and Cohen Jennings extended the lead and took the momentum away from Collingwood for good. Graham Bergsma provided one final push for the Cruise, but from there both defenses tightened up while the goaltenders traded big saves in an entertaining end-to-end battle. Owen Sound's balanced scoring attack, combined with timely special teams play, proved to be the difference as they walked away with the convincing 8-4 win.

To The Game:

In a very evenly played first period, the NorthStars drew first blood with Cam Sanderson blasting a Jordan Caskenette pass at 8:13, followed by Dawson McKenzie quick sticking a Jake McNabb feed at 12:29.

Ben Baker got Collingwood back in the game with a low blast off a Chris Harland feed at 12:57, followed by a great individual effort from Jordan Roberts off a loose ball unassisted to tie the game at 18:01.

After one period, Owen Sound 2 Collingwood 2.

Second Period:

Zack Gignac gave Collingwood their first lead of the night with a sidearm snipe off an Ashton Lankowski pass at 1:37, but Aiden Doig would knot the game up once more converting a Gatlin Burt pass at 5:46.

Jake McNabb got the NorthStars back in the lead on the power-play with an outside blast off a Cohen Jennings feed at 9:42, followed by Wyatt Barfoot scoring from in close off an Eric Poirer pass at 14:09.  Jordan Caskenette then increased the NorthStars lead with a laser to the corner off a Dawson McKenzie pass on the power-play at 15:14.

After two periods, Owen Sound 6 Collingwood 3.

Third Period:

Cam Sanderson continued the Owen Sound attack with a power-play goal off a Dawson McKenzie pass at 0:37 seconds, followed by Cohen Jennings with a blast off a Jordan Caskenette pass still on the power-play 0:44 seconds later.

Graham Bergsma got Collingwood close with an outside shot off a Steve Pelliccione feed at 4:02.

The majority of the third period saw end to end action with both defenses standing tall, and both goalies playing superb. 

Final score, Owen Sound 8 Collingwood 4.

The Three Stars:

1. Cam Sanderson 
2. Jordan Caskenette 
3. Calum Leaver-Preyra