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Francis Leonard scores O/T winner as SPHL tourney concludes
2008-01-24

In an effort to provide a more consistent approach to offering coverage for the wide variety of sports that are highlighted on SudburySports.com, we've decided to include a new feature. Weekly and bi-weekly divisional or league updates will offer a wide array of statistical tidbits, roster updates, tournament results for participating teams. Playground hockey will be featured monthly - next update is February 21st

SPHL Tournament

They bill their league as the "oldest winter minor sports league still in existence in the City of Greater Sudbury today." At one time, all youngsters who played minor hockey in Sudbury would have entered the national pastime through the Sudbury Playground Hockey League ranks.

This past weekend, the organization, which has endured many a change over the years, hosted its 5th annual SPHL invitational tournament, with teams from Massey, Whitefish and Barrie joining the local contingent to compete in four separate age divisions (Novice, Atom, Peewee & Bantam).

A number of very exciting finals highlighted a busy Sunday of activity at the Countryside Arena, including the final two games of the three-day event. In the Bantam "A" final, Edward Burla scored the game winner in the third period as the Lo-Ellen Park Lightning slipped past Long Lake 3-2.

Michael Vetoretti and Kevin McCoshen also scored for the victors while Aaron Lebreche and Hugh Munro answered in a losing cause. The Bantam "B" final immediately preceeded the "A" championship, as fans and players alike were kept in suspense to the very end.

The Cedar Park Red Wings and Algonquin Hawks completed four separate overtime sessions tied at three, gradually working down from a five on five session to eventually find themselves each with just one skater on the ice. Francis Leonard made a quick spin off the faceoff to break free and made no mistake on the backhand deke, lifting the Wings to a 4-3 win.

Matthew Dougalev paced Cedar Park with a two goal effort while Michel Huneault netted a single. Kurt Westhaver, Patrick Pilon and Stephen Greco handled the offense for the Hawks. More overtime drama, this time in the Atom ranks as the Algonquin Hawks and Antwerp Leafs needed a third period of two-minute overtime hockey before the Hawks secured a 3-2 championship win in the "B" final.

Patrick St Amour and Nico Presot found the back of the net in regulation time for Algonquin with Zack Hopkins and Sean Rochon doing the same for the Leafs. The Atom "A" championship banner would head south this year as Euro Barrie stomped Long Lake 7-2 to garner gold in the Nickel City.

Trevor Mosco registered the hat-trick to spearhead the Barrie crew with Dalton Stewart adding a pair and Brendan Magill and Josh Perry chipping in with a goal apiece. Paul Maley and Williem Agnihotri replied for the Sudbury side.

In Novice play, goals from A.J. Sauve, Tyler Smith and Mason McIntyre provided all the offense the Westmount Wolverines would need as the team skated away with the Novice "A" trophy, trimming Long Lake 3-2. Alex Yeomans and Trevor Watkins hit the scoresheet for the Lakers.

In Novice "B" action, Dominik Valentic rifled a pair of goals as the Riverdale Sharks downed the Lo-Ellen Park Lightning 4-1. Ryan Phillips and Carson Lafreniere provided some insurance for the Sharks while Neal Young Gregoris picked up the only marker for the Lightning.

Barrie crews were front and center in the Peewee division, earning a split in a pair of final game appearances. Jeff Reynolds and Nicholas Waring scored in the "A" encounter, lifting Barrie Euro past the Riverdale Sharks 2-1 as Jeff Giroux kept things close, scoring for Riverdale.

Evan Toulouse completed the hat-trick with just seven seconds remaining as the Massey Predators tripped up BDO Barrie 5-4 in the Peewee "B" final. Stanley Owl counted the final two goals for the Preds while four different players replied in a losing cause as Sean Murphy, John Luscombe, Brian Reynolds and Kyle Bannerman each tallied once.

Playoff action begins for the SPHL in roughly one month's time with the championship finals slated for the weekend of March 8th and 9th.

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