ESTEVAN - Two teams in Group B recorded big wins Monday in Estevan during the Centennial Cup national junior A hockey championship, presented by Tim Hortons.
The Ottawa Junior A Senators picked up their first victory of the tournament with a 4-0 triumph over the Soo Thunderbirds.
It appeared that the Thunderbirds had taken a 1-0 lead in the first period, but their goal was called off because officials ruled the puck was kicked in.
The Senators took a 1-0 lead 1:45 into the second period on a goal by Isaac Landry. It remained a one-goal game until the 57-second mark of the third period, when Simon Isabelle scored. Goals by Vincent Vilocci and Isabelle less than two minutes apart midway through the period put the game away.
William Desmarlais stopped all 13 shots he faced for Ottawa - the first shutout for any team in the tournament. Noah Metivier made 26 saves for the Thunderbirds.
Ottawa, who captured the Central Canadian Hockey League title, has a regulation win, a regulation loss and an overtime defeat. The Thunderbirds, who won the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League title, have lost all three games in regulation they played and have been eliminated from the medal round.
The next game saw the Summerside Western Capitals knock off the Flin Flon Bombers 4-1.
Summerside came out strong with early chances, but it would be Flin Flon scoring first on a tally by star defenceman Xavier Lapointe. Summerside tied the game on a goal by Thomas Lacombe, and 17 seconds later, there was a rare fight between Flin Flon's Lucas Fry and Summerside's Connor Keough.
The Capitals took the lead on a goal by Jacob Stewart with 41 seconds remaining in first period and added to the advantage 91 seconds into the middle frame on a goal by Aaron Brown.
Colby MacArthur's goal 6:23 into the second period finished the scoring.
Cal Schell stopped 29 of the 33 shots he faced for Flin Flon, whiile Felix Anthony-Ethier had 30 saves for Summerside. Both goalies came up with some big saves once the score was 4-1.
Summerside improved its record to 2-1 and six points. Flin Flon also has a 2-1 record although one of the wins came in overtime, so the Bombers have five points.
The final game of the day will see the host Estevan Bruins face off against the Red Lake Miners of the Superior International Junior Hockey League. Both teams are looking for their first win of the tournament. That game will start at 7:30 p.m.
Estevan won the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League championship, while Red Lake captured the Superior International Junior Hockey League title.
The Bruins need to win to keep their hopes of advancing to the medal round alive.
SASKTODAY.ca will continue to have coverage of the tournament.
