September 16, 2025
The three-day Governors’ Showcase ends Wednesday. Games are played between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. on two of four ice pads at the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls.
NIAGARA FALLS, ON: Hudson Armstrong of the Stouffville Spirit skates with the puck during the Spirit’s 7-2 win over the Leamington Flyers at the OJHL Governors’ Showcase at the Gale Centre on September 16, 2025. (Photo by Jamie Green / OJHL Images)
By Ron Valentine/ OJHL
The Buffalo Jr Sabres, Milton Menace and Wellington Dukes remain unbeaten on the Ontario Junior Hockey League season after wins during Day 2 of the OJHL’s Governors’ Showcase in Niagara Falls, ON.
Buffalo (4-0-1-0) hopped the Canada-U.S. border Tuesday afternoon and edged the Cobourg Cougars.
Milton (4-0-1-0), the defending West Conference champions, defeated the Haliburton County Huskies 5-2.
Wellington (2-0-0-0) got by the Georgetown Raiders 3-1 in the final game of the day.
The three-day Showcase ends Wednesday. Games are played between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. on two of four ice pads at the Gale Centre.
PICKERING PANTHERS 3 BURLINGTON COUGARS 2 (OT)
In an evenly-matched opening contest, the Pickering Panthers edged the Burlington Cougars on a goal by Joe Cadorin late in the first overtime period. Penalties would prove costly in this one for the Cougars with both regulation goals by Pickering coming on the powerplay. Will Johnson had both Burlington markers in a tight-checking affair. “I saw the opportunity and luckily it went in,” said Cadorin. “It’s great to be back with Pickering. The team chemistry is building as the guys are getting to know each other.” Head Coach Connor Armour in his first season behind the Panthers’ bench sees confidence building in his team. “It was a rocky start for us (an 8-0 loss against Stouffville),” he said, “and we had only had a chance to have a couple of practices, but now the guys are coming together. We still have a long way to go but I like our determination.”
“It was a rocky start for us (an 8-0 loss against Stouffville) and we had only had a chance to have a couple of practices, but now the guys are coming together.
STOUFFVILLE SPIRIT 7 LEAMINGTON FLYERS 2
A big offensive explosion for the Spirit who scored four times with the man-advantage en route to their 7-2 victory. Keiran Litterick had three goals, including one shorthanded, and two assists to lead the way and Hayden Sabourin made 23 saves. Ahead 2-1 after 20 minutes the Spirit tallied four without reply in the second. Litterick, the former Haliburton Husky and Pickering Panther, is now tied with Evan Breckles for most points scored for the team lead with 10. “Things are going really well for us right now and our powerplay is clicking,” Litterick told the OJHL. “We were on top of our game today. Now we have to keep it going. We are skating very well now and creating lots of chances and I capitalized on this one.”
MILTON MENACE 5 HALIBURTON COUNTY HUSKIES 2
Two-goal performances from Ashtyn Pacheco and Gabriel Ciarello keyed the win for the Menace who moved into top spot in the Western Conference with nine points from five games. Daniel Vasic had both goals for the Huskies. The game was tied after one period but Milton put their stamp on it in the next 20 with three goals, all on the power play. Recently-acquired blueliner Dallys Hibbert had a goal and two helpers. Pacheco is happy to be back on the ice: “Yesterday was my first time back after a three-game suspension and it’s good to get on the score sheet, it helped that we had the power play. It’s my least season in the league and a great opportunity for me as we aim to go all the way.”
TRENTON GOLDEN HAWKS 5 TORONTO PATRIOTS 4
The Golden Hawks built up a 4-0 cushion at the end of the first period and ended with a 5-4 win moving them into a tie for first in the East with Stouffville on 8 points. Period 2 saw a large comeback by the Patriots scoring three goals, two by captain Anthony Giacalone. In the final frame, goalie Finn Wilson came under siege but allowed just a singleton from Luciano Bruno. Taeo Artichuk had a goal and two assists for the winners and Jack Ziliotto earned three assists. Head coach and GM Derek Smith was pleased with the win but acknowledged that it is still early in the season: “We started off fast but the Patriots are a very good team; they skate well and they are fast. This season you cannot take any team lightly.”
LINDSAY MUSKIES 5 OAKVILLE BLADES 3
In only their second game of the season the Muskies took control early and topped the Oakville Blades 5-3. Ajay Rai, coming off a 36-point rookie season, had the hat trick, with the game’s first two goals and then connected on a powerplay early in the second. Captain Joaquin Gonzalez was foiled by Blades’ ‘keeper Marcus Cruz d’ annunzio on a third-period penalty shot. Matthew Ross scored two for Oakville. Ajay on the goals: “I got a couple of breakaways and then got one to go in on the backhand. It’s been a long time since the Muskies made the playoffs and we really want to get there this year. We have the players that can do it.”
“It’s been a long time since the Muskies made the playoffs and we really want to get there this year. We have the players that can do it.”
BUFFALO JR SABRES 2 COBOURG COUGARS 1
Jaden Flora’s 4th goal of the season, it came on the powerplay, was the difference maker in this tight contest. Jack Foley gave the Cougars the lead in the 2nd before Logan Shannon put the Jrs into a tie in the 3rd. Matteo Porporino kicked out 48 Buffalo shots while his counterpart Anthony Alessio made 24 stops. The sophomore Jr Sabre backstop, who has posted a .095 GAA in his 3 starts including a shutout, on his win: “A game like today’s being so tight really keeps you on your toes, we have a really good mix on the team this year and the many players like myself who have spent a long time in the Sabres organization help create the feeling of being a ‘team’. It’s fun.”
NIAGARA FALLS FLYERS 6 MARKHAM ROYALS 5 2OT
The Canucks playing in their home rink were the ‘visitors’ in the day’s Game 7 and they found themselves down 3-0 to the Royals with just over eight minutes elapsed on the clock and they then fell behind by four before a late second period score from captain Wolf Giles made it 5-2 after 40 minutes. That would ignite a third period comeback for the ‘Falls with Brandon Gauthier, shorthanded, Giles again and Kassius Peters connecting and it’s a 5-5 regulation tie. Capping the comeback in a free-wheeling 2OT, a breakaway goal from Jesse Gauthier gave the Canucks their first win of the season. Jesse on the big winner: “I almost lost control of the puck on the break but fortunately I was able to push it in. Wolf made some sweet moves in the second OT. He is a big guy for us.” Andrew Murray had two goals for Markham.”
WELLINGTON DUKES 3 GEORGETOWN RAIDERS 1
To wrap up the day’s schedule, the Dukes and Raiders got it on in another fast-paced tilt. Both goalies, Royden Smith for Wellington and James Kamakaris for Georgetown, were making their debuts for their team. The Dukes held on to a tenuous 2-1 advantage through 40 minutes on goals from captain Sacha Trudel and Zach Carrier before dominating the third without being able to get another past Kamakaris, who made a total of 42 stops. A Kyle Grasby empty-netter sealed the deal. That’s a perfect start for Wellington and new head coach Jacob Panetta.
And for those keeping track, Monday was a 4-4 tie in the games between the conferences, Tuesday the East took the honours five games to three over the West.
Follow Valentine on X @ronandlynda
With files from Jim Mason/OJHL Communications