BRANTFORD – Friday night’s 3-1 win in the Allan Cup Hockey matchup between the first place Stoney Creek Generals and the third place Brantford Blast just may be looked back upon as the turning point of the 2016 to 2017 season.
The Blast didn’t get off to a great pre-Christmas break season, they have gone 4-1 in 2017. But Friday night had a certain urgency in the air with only seven games left in the regular season and time to turn it on.
Brett Leggat was sensational in the Blast net as the Blast were significantly outshot. There was no scoring in the first period and most of the second but at 17:25 with the Generals serving a penalty, Derek Medeiros cashed in with a powerplay goal. The Generals pushed back but Leggat was in the groove and on his game on this given night.
Justin Donati evened the score early in the third period but Cam Sault helped set up what would be the game winner at 19:11 with Dustin Alcock also assisting.
The Generals pulled their goalie and Ryan McCarthy made them pay with an empty netter for the 3-1 final score and a very exciting end at the Brantford Civic Centre.
The Blast now chase the Whitby Dunlops, who are three points ahead, for second place. Stoney Creek still retains a good hold on first place, five points ahead of Whitby and eight points in front of the Blast as of Saturday. Although Brantford doesn’t play, they will be watching as Thorold plays Whitby and Stoney Creek play in Hamilton, Saturday night.
