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Rout keeps U16 Stars' season alive
St. Thomas blanks London, 7-0, in game three of the Alliance AA final
April 3, 2023
By Rob J. Ross
ST. THOMAS - The St. Thomas Junior Stars sent a message. They are still alive.
The Jr. Stars routed the London Jr. Knights White, 7-0, Sunday at the Joe, to extend the Alliance League AA Constellation U16 final to a fourth game.
London leads the six point series, four points to two, with game four game, Monday in London.
"Puck movement. We weren't individual. When we play like that, that's typically the result we get," Stars head coach Matt Bowes said. "They are a chippy team that likes to draw us into some of the garbage. When we can try to stay out of that, we are able use our speed."
Alex Medeiros, with two goals, Rhys Stewart shorthanded, AJ Power, Sam Taylor, Bowman Mercer and Sam Taylor scored.
Cooper Ilczyszyn, aka Soupy, picked up three assists. Goalie Darren Hagerty had the shutout.
"Everyone played extremely well," said Bowes. "Alex Medeiros was at the top of his game. He's really good at being able to skate away from the garbage. Our top unit was really good today, with Taylor, Power and Ilczyszyn."
Down 5-0 after two periods, London was the aggressor initiating scrums after the whistle in the final frame.
"That's hurts us to be involved in that. That's not the way this team is going to win," Bowes said. "If we're going to win, we've got to make sure to keeps our boys' heads level."
Penalties are a reason the Jr. Stars trail in the six point series, but Bowes believes his team is capable to comeback.
"We knew after games one and two, we could have been up two to nothing. Both of those games were tight, but maybe a little undisciplined for us, which is why we didn't get them," Bowes said. "(Game three), that's how good our team is. There's no reason why we can't pick up the next two (points) and win this thing on home ice (Wednesday)."
London won game one, 5-4, at Memorial Arena March 28, scoring three times on the power play. A 2-1 win in London March 30, gave the Knights White a four points to none series lead.
Playing 24 hours later after their first win of the series is a plus for St. Thomas.
"It's nice that it is a quick turn around, because everyone is feeling good and this will be fresh their memory," added Bowes.
If the Jr. Stars win or tie game four at London, game five is Wednesday, 8 p.m. at the Joe. A game six, if necessary, is Thursday in London.
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