COXHEAD GETS SHOOTOUT WIN TO GIVE BLUE WILD WIN AT U17 CAMP

LEE BOYADJIAN

CALGARY, Alta – By the time Andrew Coxhead (Bedford, N.S./Dartmouth, NSMMHL) stepped onto the ice, 23 other players had tried, and failed, to end the marathon shootout. Coxhead found a way.

The forward went to the forehand and snuck a shot around White goaltender Matthew Thiessen (Altona, Man./Pembina Valley, MMAAAHL) that hit both posts before crossing the line to give Blue a 3-2 win Saturday night at Canada’s national under-17 development camp.

“I was pretty nervous going into it, the first game, but it was nice to get that one under the belt and have a win,” said Coxhead, who described the shootout as stressful and fun.

Blue would not have been in the position to get a win if not for the play of goaltenders Carl Stankowski (Calgary, Alta./Anaheim, USU16) and Alexis Gravel (Asbestos, Que./Mississauga Senators, GTHL). Together, the Blue tandem stopped 34 of 36 shots in regulation and overtime.

Blue opened the scoring 9:14 into the first period – the first opening-frame goal in four games at camp – when Allan McShane (Barrie, Ont./Toronto Malboros, GTHL) danced around the defence and used the screen to beat Hunter Jones (Brantford, Ont./Mississauga Reps, GTHL).

But White answered back before the end of the period, with Akil Thomas (Toronto, Ont./Markham, GTHL) toe-dragging around a Blue defender before roofing a shot past Stankowski.

White, which dominated the shot clock 36-14 during regulation and overtime, seemed to take control midway through the second period on a Ryan Chyzowski (Kamloops, B.C./Thompson, BCMML) marker, but Eric Florchuk (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta./Fort Saskatchewan, AMHL) answered just over two minutes later to send the game to the second intermission tied 2-2.

“We outplayed them today. We played a real strong team game today,” Chyzowski said. “Our coaches have really been harping on us to follow our systems after [Friday’s] game. So I think we played a well-structured game today and it really showed on the scoreboard, but not at the end, I guess.”

A scoreless third period and overtime gave way to a shootout, which was dominated by the goaltenders.

McShane and Elijah Brown (Edmonton, Alta./Edmonton SSAC, AMHL) traded goals in the first three rounds, before Gravel and Thiessen combined for seven consecutive saves.

Brown and Tyler Popowich (Surrey, B.C./Okanagan Hockey Academy, CSSHL) converted in Round 7, and Chyzowski and Calen Addison (Brandon, Man./Brandon, MMAAAHL) did the same in Round 9.

“I just saw [Gravel] was a big goalie and knew he might not be able to move laterally when he goes down a little bit,” Chyzowski said. “Guys were shooting and I knew the ice was a little bit rough so I just came in and tried to pump-fake and just go around him and shoot it.”

But it was Coxhead who was the hero, finally finishing it on the 24th and final shot.

Blue is back in action Sunday night against Red (7:30 p.m. MT) at the Markin MacPhail Centre, while White will practice Sunday before resuming game action Monday morning against an opponent to be determined (9:30 a.m. MT).