Pat Payton
Sports Editor
LONDON - Following a 2-1 pre-season victory over London Nationals here Saturday night, Stratford Cullitons put four more names on players’ cards.
Signing on for the 2010-11 campaign are forwards Andrew Barton and Jared Culliton, defenceman Connor Devereaux and goalie Derick Mitchell, reports Jason Lott, the Tribe’s director of hockey operations.
Barton and Culliton are both 18 years old and from Stratford. They were members of Bob Zimmer’s Major Midget Warriors, who captured the provincial title in Mississauga in the spring of 2009.
Last year, Barton was a late cut from the Cullitons and played with New Hamburg Firebirds of the Niagara West Jr. C League. Culliton also spent the season in the Jr. C ranks, with Stratford’s affiliate Mitchell Hawks.
The addition of Barton and Culliton brings the number of forwards signed to 14, Lott says.
Devereaux spent the entire season in Stratford a year ago, dressing for 48 games. The 18-year-old from Seaforth brings the number of signed defencemen with the Cullitons to seven.
That number doesn’t include Nik Knezic, who hasn’t attended the Tribe’s camp to date. This week, he’s at Niagara Ice Dogs’ Ontario Hockey League camp.
Mitchell was the starting goaltender for Mt. Brydges Bulldogs of the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League last season. The 19-year-old hails from Goderich.
“I thought Derick looked this (past) weekend against a good London team,” Lott said. “He’s excited to be playing at the Jr. B level, and wants to earn his (playing) time behind (incumbent) Evan (Groenestege).”
Cullitons 2 - Nationals 1
At the Western Fair sports complex Saturday, Cullitons turned in a better effort than 24 hours earlier, and goals by Barton and Jake Ryan carried them to the win and a weekend split with the Nationals.
The Tribe improved its exhibition record to 3-1 with the victory. For Ryan, meanwhile, it was the New Liskeard teenager’s sixth goal of the pre-season.
“I thought we played much better than Friday; our energy level was certainly higher,” Lott reported. “I thought we controlled the majority of the game.”
The director of hockey operations noted the Cullitons’ veterans were “leaders on the bench” as well.
Derick Mitchell played the first half and didn’t allow a goal as Stratford built a 2-0 lead.
Groenestege went in for the final 30 minutes, and allowed a late third-period tally.
The Tribe dressed all its veterans except three – forwards Brendan Nicholson, Chett Binning and injured Brad McClure.
Nationals 6 - Cullitons 3
At the Allman Friday night, Cullitons never quite recovered from a 4-0 first-period deficit. The four London goals – coming off the sticks of Noah Schwartz, Marcus Pepe, Jeremy Denomme and Thomas Menechella – came in a span of just 2:16.
The Tribe chipped away and slowly made a game of it.
Ray Huether, on a powerplay, scored the only goal of the second period from defenceman Jordan Currie.
Cullitons then pulled to within a goal at 4-3 when Andrew Barton (powerplay) and new defenceman Mike Pleon (shorthanded, unassisted) connected before the final stanza was four minutes old. Currie and Steve Dol assisted on Barton’s goal.
However, that’s as close as the home team would get as Nationals veteran Kevin Braden made it 5-3 at the five-minute mark, and former Culliton Tom Jobson banged in a powerplay marker at 8:48 to complete the scoring.
Overall, London held a 46-33 shooting advantage. Evan Groenestege and Derick Mitchell split the goaltending duties for Stratford.
Cullitons took 40 of the 64 penalty minutes.
“We just didn’t skate well tonight; we weren’t very intense,” Jason Lott commented.
While no points were on the line, it was still a costly night for the Cullitons. Winger Brad McClure, who led Stratford in goals last season with 28, left the game with a serious knee injury after taking an open-ice hit midway through the first period.
“It’s not ligament damage, but a tendon injury, which is better news,” Lott said Saturday.
“The early word is that it’s probably seven to 10 days before Brad can skate again.”
McClure, a 17-year-old from Stratford, was planning to be on the ice in Owen Sound this week – trying out for the OHL Attack.
“Brad will probably go to Owen Sound to see their doctor and therapist, and then decide where to proceed from there,” Lott added.
Notes:
• Stratford native Paul Petrie, who is the new Nationals’ defencemen coach, says London may have the “best player” in the Western Conference of the GOJHL.
He’s Noah Schwartz, who had 26 goals and 55 points in 54 games with the Hamilton Tier II Jr. A club last season. The 18-year-old forward is attending Western.
• Cullitons complete their six-game pre-season schedule with a home-and-home set with Strathroy Rockets this week.
The Tribe is in Strathroy Thursday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m., and hosts the Rockets the following night, also at 7:30 p.m. Stratford opens its regular schedule Friday, Sept. 10 at home against Cambridge Winter Hawks.
