Pat Payton
Sports Editor
GUELPH - Two third-period goals by Brad McClure sparked Stratford Cullitons to a come-from-behind 5-2 victory over Guelph Hurricanes here Saturday night.
The Tribe trailed 2-0 early, but capped its comeback with three unanswered goals in the final 20 minutes in front of an estimated 150 fans.
The win moved sixth-place Stratford (18-23-1) nine points ahead of seventh-place Guelph (12-24-4), which has two games in hand.
The road victory was also Cullitons’ first against the Hurricanes since their season-opening 6-1 win in Guelph.
“Without a doubt, it was our biggest game of the year,” coach Phil Westman told the Gazette.
“We couldn’t let them gain ground on us because nobody wants to play Brantford or Waterloo in the first round (of playoffs), so it was a big win for us.”
In the Midwestern Conference standings after weekend action, Cullitons sit one point behind Elmira Sugar Kings (17-18-4), six back of fourth-place Listowel Cyclones (21-18-1), and seven behind the third-place Cambridge Winterhawks (20-14-4).
With just nine regular-season games remaining, Cambridge or Listowel will almost certainly be the Tribe’s first-round playoff opponent.
On Friday night at the Allman Arena, just over 1,000 fans watched the first-place Brantford Golden Eagles score three times before the 10-minute mark of the third in a 6-4 victory over the Cullitons.
It was the Eagles’ fourth straight win over the Tribe.
“Brantford is just really, really strong,” coach Westman said in admiration. “There’s a reason why they’re the defending (provincial) champs and they’ve lost just five games. They have a lot of experience.”
Stratford 5 - Guelph 2
At Victoria Road Rec. Centre Saturday, Cullitons went for the jugular early in the third period--scoring three times in a span of just 64 seconds.
McClure snapped a 2-2 tie with a powerplay goal at the two-minute mark, and then the rookie winger added his 25th of the season just 12 seconds later to put the visitors ahead 4-2. Centre Steve McParland assisted on both goals.
“McClure has had a pretty good year for a freshman, real good,” Westman noted.
Brendan Nicholson completed the outburst with the fifth Stratford goal at 3:04.
Powerplay goals by Tyson Theaker and Cayle Green gave Hurricanes a 2-0 lead by the midway mark of the first period.
Chett Binning got the Tribe’s comeback started with a powerplay goal, from Nicholson, with just 19 seconds left in the opening frame.
Tyson Avery’s first goal of the season was a huge one as it tied the score 2-2 at 4:16 of the second period.
It stayed that way until McClure went to work early in the third, putting Cullitons in front for good.
McParland finished the night with three assists, and is now fifth in team scoring, while Nicholson, Shane Rhyno, Kyle Wilhelm and Kurtis Bailey contributed one assist apiece.
Cody Vinnai, making his fifth straight start, made 29 saves to improve his record to 7-12.
Overall, Stratford out-shot Guelph 34-31. The Tribe also played the game with just five defencemen.
Brantford 6 - Stratford 4
At the Allman Friday night, Cullitons led 1-0 after the first period and 4-3 after 40 minutes, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the powerful Golden Eagles who seem to find another gear when they need it.
Brandon Greenside tied it at 1:16 of the third, and Mike Ryan’s shorthanded goal just under five minutes later stood up as the winner. Joe Vanni added an unassisted tally at 8:13 to cap Brantford’s GOJHL-leading 34th win.
Eagles out-shot the Tribe 19-5 in the final 20 minutes. Brantford’s Josh McQuade, who leads the league with 49 goals and 120 points, finished the night with three assists.
“McQuade has 120-some points, and he’s tough to contain,” Westman said.
“And he’s got a good supporting cast there, too.
“We played well, and we were without (Craig) Dalrymple and (Nik) Knezic, two of our best defencemen.”
Ryan and Jeff Lynch paced the visitors with two goals apiece. Kyle Wilhelm, his 20th, Cohen Adair, Brad McClure and Tyler Masson (shorthanded) replied for Stratford. Kyle Roes chipped in two assists.
The goals by Wilhelm and Adair were both powerplay markers.
Overall, Eagles out-shot the Cullitons 48-29. Former OHL goalie Darryl Borden chalked up his 32nd win of the campaign.
Upcoming: Cullitons’ next game is Saturday night when they host St. Marys Lincolns in the much-anticipated Hockey Day in Canada game. The GOJHL inter-locking contest, with two points at stake, starts at 7:10 p.m.
After the St. Marys game, the Tribe has four games in a span of six days.
Cullitons are in Kitchener to play the Dutchmen next Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m., and in Brantford for another date with the Eagles on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
