Blast one win away from Allan Cup invitation

BRANTFORD – The Brantford Blast stand one win away from the ACH Championship and a berth in the Alan Cup Championships after a 3-2 overtime win over the Whitby Dunlops, Saturday night, in Whitby.

The Blast lead the best of seven series 3-2 and could eliminate the Dunlops this Friday night, starting at 7:45, at the Brantford and District Civic Centre.

The Blast has many weapons in its arsenal, from the goaltending tandem of Brett Legget and Anthony Marshall, to the offensive prowess of star players like Joel Prpic and Chad Spurr. But the consistent workmanlike efforts Six Nations/New Credit’s Cam Sault, every game, every shift, has been a big part of the Blast’s success this season, and especially in the playoffs.

Sault, known as “Pepper” by his teammates, always adds a little spice to the game even when he doesn’t score. But he does score and has quietly moved into second place in team scoring behind Spurr with three goals and two assists, averaging a point a game in the playoffs so far.

Sault missed the first part of the regular season recovering from knee surgery, but once he got his wheels moving again he recorded 18 points in 16 games played, with 5 goals and 13 assists, many of those points coming at crucial times in the game.

Saturday night in Whitby, Joel Prpic scored at 10:40 of the first period followed by Sault’s third of the series at 12:27 to build a 2-0 first period lead over the Dunlops.

The Dunnies came back with one goal in the second, a powerplay marker scored by Steve Birch at 3:51, and then the tying goal at 10:53 of the third period, scored by Peter MacLellar.

Jamie Williams put the game in the bag for Brantford at 7:09 of overtime for the important Game #5 win.

Since the Dundas Real McCoys are hosting this year’s Allan Cup in April, they get an automatic berth in the national championship. That means, if Brantford can win the ACH Championship by defeating Whitby, they will be the second team representing Ontario in this year’s Allan Cup tournament.

The Blast won the Allan Cup in 2008, the Cup’s 100th Anniversary, by defeating the Bentley Generals and hope to bring the Cup back to Brantford. Blast General Manager and owner, Peter Ham was also a part of the Brantford Alexanders organization when they won the Cup in 1977.

The Brantford Mott’s Clamato’s won the prize in 1987, with Dundas Real McCoy’s General Manager Don Robertson behind the bench.

The series with Whitby began on Feb 28th with a 3-1 Brantford loss, Sault accounting for the lone Brantford goal. Brantford rebounded with a 5-3 win in Game #2, with Sault netting his second playoff goal. Last Tuesday night’s Game #3 saw Brantford drop a 7-2 decision, Sault assisted on both Brantford goals. Friday night in Brantford, the Blast took a 2-0 win with Brett Leggat earning the shutout.

If a Game#7 is necessary, it will be played in Whitby, Sunday night.

 

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