CORNWALL, Ont. – Ryan O’Hara (Oakville Blades, OJHL) tallied twice, added an assist, and went on to notch the lone-goal in the shootout to help lift Team Red over Team White 4-3 Thursday morning in Day 2 action at the Canada East Selection Camp at Benson Centre.
Skating in a pair of 30-minute periods, O’Hara put Red on the board at 4:10 of the first only to see Kyle Petton (Campbellton Tigers, MHL) counter on the power play for Team White a couple of shifts later.
Moving to the final session, O’Hara helped set-up Matthew Vermaeten (Rockland Nationals, CCHL) nearly five minutes into the frame to put Red back in front.
Team White answered though on markers from Aidan Hilton (Rockland Nationals, CCHL) and Justin Paul (Georgetown Raiders, OJHL) to give them the lead with half a period to play.
Continuing his solid performance, O’Hara drew his side level with five and a half minutes remaining in regulation then proceeded to connect with his opportunity in extra shots to help his squad win their second straight one-goal game.
Shots on net favoured Team White by a 40-39 count with Tristan Gray (Campbellton Tigers, MHL) picking up the win with 23 stops on 25 chances as well as all three he faced in the shootout. Devon Levi (Carleton Place Canadians, CCHL) meanwhile handled 14 of 15 in one period of work.
White starter Cyrus Martin (Rockland Nationals, CCHL) made 14 saves in the opening half of the contest while Sebastian Lebora (St. Michael’s Buzzers, OJHL) kicked out 22 of 24 attempts in the back half of the meeting.
The two sides meet again later today at 3 p.m. back in Cornwall.
The camp, featuring 44 prospects from the five eastern-based leagues within the Canadian Junior Hockey League, is part of the process to help formulate the Canada East roster that will compete in the 2019 World Junior A Challenge, December 7-15, in Dawson Creek, B.C.
A total of 44 players are attending the three-day event.
Canada East Selection Camp
Inter-squad game schedule
Wednesday, Aug. 7
Red 3 White 2
Thursday, Aug. 8
Red 4 White 3 (Shootout)
Red vs. White 3 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 9
White vs. Red 9 a.m.