The ETA all stars endured a mid January storm to travel to St. Catharines for the 14th annual OMHA Midget all star game on January 25th. The ETA team then went on to defeat their counterparts from the SCTA 5 – 2 in a fased paced game which was part of the SCTA’s AAA Showcase at the Seymour-Hannah Sports Centre.
Tenacity for the puck combined with crisp passing and solid positional play carried the ETA team to victory. The ETA dominated play early in the contest but were unable to find the back of the net until midway in the second period when Liam Folkes (South Central Coyotes) opened the scoring with assists from Nathan Grossi (Markham Waxers)and Mackenzie Heber (Ajax-Pickering Raiders). Two more goals in quick succession gave the ETA a 3 – 0 lead at the end of the 2nd period. Scoring were Trevor Scullion (South Central Coyotes) assisted by Davis Kuksis (Ajax-Pickering Raiders) and Kuksis from William Gagne (Peterborough Petes).
The SCTA scored their first goal early in the 3rd period but the ETA responded less than 2 minutes later on a goal by Grossi with assists by Reed Kekewich (Kingston Frontenacs) and Zac Fisher (Markham Waxers) to restore the 3 goal advantage. The ETA went up 5 – 1 with just under 6 minutes remaining in the game when Liam Folkes notched his second goal assisted by Gagne and Grossi. The SCTA tallied with 3 minutes remaining to complete the scoring. Only 5 minor penalties were called throughout the game.
The victory improved the ETA’s record to 11 – 3 since the inception of the OMHA Midget all star game in 2001.
Ajax-Pickering Raider’s Davis Kuksis was selected as the ETA player of the game.