from Stratford Beacon Herald http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2222380
Eagles’ keeper star of goalfest
By MIKE SAVAGE
In a game featuring 26 goals, you’d hardly expect a goaltender to be named MVP.
But that was the case Monday night at Galt Arena Gardens, where Daryl Borden of Sutherland Cup champion Brantford backstopped Team Rex to a 17-9 triumph over Team DeSilva in the 22nd Frank Santarossa Midwestern Conference all-star game.
Borden allowed just three goals on 34 shots in just over 30 minutes of playing time to give his coach with the Golden Eagles, Scott Rex, his first win in five tries in various all-star competition.
“It’s always nice to be part of a game like this. It’s an honour just to be thought of as a possible MVP candidate with all the talent here,” Borden said after the contest. “Many of us know each other, obviously from this league but also from summer hockey. It’s great to play in a setting like this. The guys have a lot of fun with it.”
Borden made save after eye-popping save during his half hour on the ice and did about everything except score a goal, something he did with Brantford in last year’s playoffs.
Last night, however, he left the offence to Golden Eagles teammates Josh McQuade and Matt Hill, and Stratford’s Kyle Wilhelm, each of whom had hattricks.
“It’s a fun game, not a lot of defence, obviously,” said Wilhelm, who scored all three of his goals in the opening frame. “But more than the game itself, it was fun getting to know the guys on the other teams and talking smack with them. You’re supposed to hate them during the regular season, but get ’em all together in a situation like this and you realize they’re a good bunch of guys.”
Wilhelm played on a line with Cullitons’ teammates Cohen Adair and Brad McClure. The trio combined for eight scoring points — Wilhelm’s hattrick, McClure a goal and two assists and Adair two helpers.
Defencemen Craig Dalrymple and Kyle Roes also represented the Tribe, with Dalrymple drawing an assist.
“I thought the Stratford guys all had a good game,” Wilhelm said. “Brad and Cohen put some points up and Roesy and Dally moved the puck well. I think we gave a good account of ourselves.”
McQuade, the top point-getter in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, had three goals and two assists for Rex, Hill had three and one, Wilhelm a hattrick, Kitchener’s Tanner DeWitt two goals, Mark Scheifele and Derek Schoenmakers of the Dutchmen one apiece, McClure one, and Cambridge’s Cody Hall, Mike Sones and Anthony Colizza one each.
For Team DeSilva, coached by Waterloo Siskins’ bench boss Dean DeSilva, Listowel’s Dan Mohle was named player of the game. Mohle, acquired recently by the Cyclones from the Guelph Hurricanes, had two goals and two assists, as did Waterloo’s Ben Skinner. Guelph’s Zach Dion and Tyson Theaker, Listowel’s Ken Rolph and Kyle Goss and Elmira’s Michael Therrien had one apiece. The Sugar Kings’ Tyson LeBlanc had four assists.
Team DeSilva outshot Team Rex 59-49. Borden made 31 saves and Cambridge’s Jeff Flagler stopped 19 shots in the win, while Waterloo’s Colin Breen and Guelph’s Chris McDougall each made 16 saves for DeSilva. Team Rex led 6-3 after one and 11-5 after two.
Neither team scored a powerplay goal, nor could they, since no penalties were called.
“These guys certainly take their lead from what they see on TV in February (in the NHL all-star game) — a no-hitter with nothing but offence,” Rex said. “All the little things that everybody has to do during the course of the year gets turned off for a night. But it’s great to see these guys put on a show like that, seeing all the talent on the ice and what these guys can do with the puck.
“It was a fun night. All the lines contributed. It’s ingrained in them not to like each other during the year but it was a great thing to see them come together. Very rarely in this game do you get a chance to let your guard down like this.”
Midwestern convener Shawn McKelvie was on hand to present awards to the players during post-game festivities. He also spoke of the importance of the contest to the Santarossa Fund, which provides $1000 bursaries each year to five Midwestern players attending Canadian universities.
“To this point in the 22-year history of the Santarossa Fund, $70,000 has been given out to various players,” McKelvie said. “Tonight is our big fund-raiser, with all proceeds from the 50-50, the gate and the programs going straight to the Santarossa fund.”
The fund was created by Lino Santarossa in memory of his son, Frank, a former Midwestern player who died tragically nearly a quarter-century ago.
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The Guelph Hurricanes next home game is this Saturday as they take on the Welland Canadiens on Guelph Minor Hockey night. (Wear your Minor hockey jersey and get in free). Game time is 7:30 pm at the Sleeman Centre.