LOCAL ROUNDUP Canadiens, 73’s opener lives up to grand billing
If the opener is any indication, the Bill Stobbs Division final between the Lakeshore Canadiens and Essex 73’s could be a thriller. Eric Larue scored with just under eight minutes to play in regulation and that was the lone goal as the Canadiens won 1-0 at the Essex Centre Sports Complex.
The defending champions head home to Lakesore for Game 2 on Friday with a 1-0 lead in the bestof-seven Provincial Junior Hockey League series. Lakeshore goalie Erik Morneau made 29 saves to earn the shutout with more than half of those saves coming in the third period when the 73’s held a 15-7 edge in shots and 29-25 overall.
SAINTS RECOGNIZED
Former St. Clair College Saints men’s soccer player Robert Malbasic was one of 25 people named to the 9th OCAA hall of fame class on Tuesday along with former St. Clair fastball head coach Bill Smith.
A St. Joseph high school product, Malbasic holds the OCAA for career record for goals after scoring 55 over five seasons from 2007-11. Smith spent 11 seasons guiding the fastball team and led the Saints to eight-straight provincial medals, which include three gold medals.
LANCERS HONOURED
University of Windsor Lancers outside hitter Pierce Johnson and middle blocker John Moate were named first-team all-stars in men’s volleyball by the OUA on Tuesday. Johnson was second in the OUA with a .319 hitting percentage, was fourth with an average of 3.75 kills per set and fifth in total points with 268.5.
Moate topped the league with 1.17 blocks per set and 70 total blocks while finishing fourth in solo blocks with 22.
As well, the Lancers Ally Winik and Brooke Davis were honoured by the OUA with women’s volleyball all-star recognition.
The six-foot-one Winik, who is a freshman out of Maranatha Christian Academy, was named an OUA second-team all-star and was also named to the league’s all-rookie team.
A sophomore setter, Davis was third in assists per sets at 9.22 and fourth in total assists with 618.
WILDCATS SWEEP
Hunter Hutchins scored with 0.9 left on the clock to lift the Villanova Wildcats to a 4-3 win over the Chatham Ursuline Lancers in Tuesday’s SWOSSAA boys’ AAA hockey final.
Matteo Mejalli, Ethan Hamelin and Nic Pavia also scored for the Wildcats, who have now qualified for OFSAA in Barrie from March 20-22.
Villanova also took the SWOSSAA girls’ AAA hockey title on Tuesday with a 2-1 win over Sarnia Northern at the Vollmer Complex to advance to OFSAA, which is March 20-22 in Midland.