PHOTO courtesy icelevel.com
Carlos Verde
CARLETON PLACE, ONT. —
The Ottawa Junior Senators brought their A-game on the road Saturday night, earning a 5-2 decision against the hometown Carleton Place Canadians in Game 1 of the CCHL’s Bogart Cup final.
Former Barrie Colt Chiwetin Blacksmith paced the Jr. Sens with three points (1G, 2A) in their Game 1 win, while 20-year-old goaltender Ian Andriano stopped 32 of 34 shots en route to the victory.
“We were good, but not great,” said Ottawa head coach Martin Dagenais post-game. “I’m sure they’re thinking the same thing on the other side, so we’ll have to be ready with our best game (for) tomorrow (’s Game 2).”
Blacksmith opened the scoring for the Jr. Sens just 3:48 into Saturday’s contest, when he beat Carleton Place netminder Connor Hughes with a wrist shot off the rush.
A Teddy Simson powerplay goal at the 12:11 mark then doubled the Ottawa lead and put the hosts on the back foot.
The hosts took control of the play after conceding a second, and were rewarded at 7:41 of the middle frame when Justin Cmunt beat Andriano to halve the Canadians’ deficit.
The Jr. Sens restored their two-goal lead just 47 seconds later, when Griffin McGregor potted a juicy Adrien Bisson rebound past Hughes.
Cam White extended Ottawa’s lead at 12:51 of the third period, surprising Hughes with a bad-angle wrist shot that the Carleton Place ‘tender will have wanted back.
Cmunt’s second of the night, a pretty finish off a horrendous defensive-zone turnover by Ottawa defenseman Merrick Rippon, got the Canadians within two at the 14:19 mark, but it was too little too late for Jason Clarke’s squad.
Hubert Delisle sealed the win for Ottawa with a final-minute empty-netter.
“Getting that big goal from our grinders to make it 3-1, that was huge,” admitted Dagenais, whose team fell to Carleton Place in last year’s Bogart Cup. “They took it to us at times, but Ian Andriano is a machine (in net) for us.”
Carleton Place head coach Jason Clarke did not mince words following the defeat.
“He was garbage,” said Clarke of Connor Hughes, who allowed four goals — including three questionable ones — on 23 shots. “If we play the same way we did tonight, and get the strong goaltending we need, we’ll have a strong chance to win.”
Game 2 of the Bogart Cup final will go Sunday at the Jim Durrell Complex, with puck drop slated for 7:30 p.m. (Hockey TV)
