Pat Payton
Sports Editor

ST. MARYS – Stratford Cullitons may not have gotten the competition that they had hoped for from St. Marys Lincolns this past weekend.

But at the same time, the Tribe may have found out what newcomers can score goals.

Jake Ryan completed a five-goal weekend by firing a hat trick in an 8-2 win here Saturday night. Twenty-four hours earlier at the Allman, Steven Dol took the spotlight – collecting three goals and three assists in a one-sided 10-3 romp over the rookie-laden Lincs.

Ryan, 17, was a member of New Liskeard ‘AAA’ Midget Cubs last season, while Dol, a 19-year-old from the Simcoe area, played for Delhi Travellers of the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League (SOJHL) last year.

Ryan’s New Liskeard teammate, Mitch McCrank, scored in both games against St. Marys as well.

“I think they’re both going to be pretty good hockey players for us,” said Jason Lott, the Cullitons’ director of hockey operations. “Once they get used to the Jr. B level and the league, they’ll bring a lot to our team.”

Lott said Ryan and McCrank put up “pretty decent numbers” with the Cubs last winter.

“If McCrank wasn’t in the top five in scoring, he was in the top 10 for sure in the Great North Midget League,” he noted. “It’s a good league, and New Liskeard did really well last season and battled with those top teams such as the Soo and Sudbury.”

Cullitons 8 - Lincolns 2
At the Pyramid Centre Saturday, the teams were tied 2-2 after the first period, but goals by Ryan and veteran Chett Binning – just over two minutes apart early in the middle frame – put Cullitons ahead to stay.

The Tribe tacked on its final four goals over the last 12 minutes of the third.
McCrank, Ray Huether (powerplay), Kyle Rowe and veteran Brendan Nicholson had the other Stratford goals. Defenceman Liam Maaskant chipped in three assists and Ryan Sykes two more.

Scott Coghlin (powerplay) and Mike Mandarelli replied for the Lincolns, who dressed no returnees.

“We wanted to get some guys into Jr. B games and kind of get a feel for our team,” Cullitons’ coach Phil Westman said.

“Ryan’s a nice player, but I like a lot of our players. We were moving the puck well on defence, and there’s going to be a competition for positions here. It’s a tough spot, but it’s good spot.

“We’re going to have some tough decisions to make, on both forward and defence. We want to make sure we go into the season with the best team we can ice.

“Players are going to have roles, and we have to put the right players in those spots. And there’s always those unknown situations. Is somebody going to return from an OHL camp, or make an OHL team? We’re just going to keep working away, and feeling our way through right now.”

Derick Mitchell, 19, who Cullitons are strongly considering for the team’s back-up role behind Evan Groenestege, played the first two periods. Drew Reinhart played the final 20 minutes.

The Tribe dressed four returnees – forwards Binning and Nicholson and defencemen Connor Devereaux and Andrew Lorimer – for Saturday’s game.

Cullitons 10 - Lincolns 3
At the Allman Friday night, it was a mismatch as Cullitons out-shot the young Lincolns 41-15 as they built period leads of 4-0 and 7-2.

The Tribe had six veterans in its line-up and several other prospects who are expected to make the club. Lincs, on the other hand, had no returnees in their line-up – dressing a full roster of prospects.

Lott was not pleased with the calibre of player that Lincolns dressed in the two games this past weekend. And he let St. Marys GM Warren Nye know it face-to-face Saturday in the Stonetown.

“I’m paying for a bus, I’m bringing in a bunch of guys who are trying to make our Jr. B hockey team, and they’re playing against a Midget house league team,” Lott said prior to Saturday’s game.

“I’ve putting a goalie (Derick Mitchell) in there who we’re trying to decide whether to sign him or not, and in two periods (Friday) night he had less than a handful of quality shots. He let in two goals in two periods, but he was not challenged on most of the shots he faced.”

In addition to Dol’s big six-point night, Jake Ryan had a pair of goals, while Stratford native Jared Culliton contributed a goal and two assists. The other singles came off the sticks of Andrew Barton, Eli Adair, Mac Macsorley and Mitch McCrank.

Ryan and Adair both clicked for shorthanded markers, while Stratford’s Macsorley connected with the man advantage.

In net, Mitchell, 19, played the first 40 minutes, and 16-year-old Cian Patterson-March the last 20 for the Cullitons.

Nick Moniz, Adam Rzeszutko and Kyle Walker (shorthanded) replied for St. Marys.
Vets who dressed for the Tribe included: Connor Devereaux, Myles Melchers, Tyson Avery, Brock Reynolds, Brad McClure and Shayne Rhyno.