The first game of the Colemans Cup was contested in front of fans in Stephenville at The Dome, about an hour southwest of the St. John’s IceCaps’ training camp home base of Corner Brook.
The IceCaps trotted out a lineup consisting mainly of all the training camp tryouts and ECHLers who have been champing at the bit to see some game action ever since the Montreal Canadiens’ training camp started over two weeks ago. The Toronto Marlies also iced a diminished roster, consisting of a similar mix of players.
| Left Wing |
Center |
Right Wing |
| Yannick Veilleux | Daniel Audette | Nikita Scherbak |
| Tim Bozon | Phil DeSimone | Markus Eisenschmid |
| Connor Crisp | Mark MacMillan | Jeremy Gregoire |
| Mathieu Corderre-Gagnon | Stefano Momesso | David Broll |
| Left Defense |
Right Defense |
| Tom Parisi | Brett Lernout |
| Josiah Didier | Dalton Thrower |
| Jeremie Blain | Justin Baker |
| Goaltenders |
| Charlie Lindgren |
| Zachary Fucale |
The first period was played at a blistering pace and completed in about 30 minutes, despite including an early scrap between IceCap hopeful David Broll and Marlie Daniel Maggio. The action was fast and furious but the frame ended scoreless, with the Marlies taking the shot advantage six to three.
The second period felt like it went on forever due to the slow pace of play, and a delay due to broken glass didn’t help matters. Charlie Lindgren, who started the game for the IceCaps, was credited with making 11 saves, including some key stops in the first period to keep the game scoreless, and turning aside a breakaway attempt as his final act of the game before being replaced by Zachary Fucale halfway through. The period ended with a bit of a scrum in which Mathieu Corderre-Gagnon was the only player to receive a penalty, meaning that the IceCaps would start the third a man down.
The third period proved to be a nice balance of pace and action, and featured the only goal of the game. Toronto’s Chase Witala scored on the power play only 53 seconds in, and the Marlies took the game 1-0.
Fucale made 13 saves on the night, including a quick reflex glove save. Although he didn’t fare too badly, it was Lindgren who made the bigger, more timely saves and was named the game’s second star. Neither goalie is assured a spot on the IceCaps roster when the season starts, as the Montreal Canadiens are still carrying three goalies. One of those goalies could be sent down if he doesn’t earn the backup role, which could shift either Lindgren or Fucale to the East Coast Hockey League.
The best chance of the game for the IceCaps came in the second period when Nikita Scherbak used his speed to make moves around some Marlies defenders, but was stopped by goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo, who played the full game for the Marlies.
Out of all the tryouts it seems that Yannick Veilleux looked the best, as he played on the top line with Daniel Audette and Scherbak. The line generated a few chances, notably in the second period when they cycled the puck deep in the attacking zone.
The Marlies went one-for-three on the power play, while the IceCaps failed to capitalize on three opportunities, including one late in the third period. Final shots were 25 for the Marlies and 13 for the IceCaps.
IceCaps scratches included Philip Samuelsson, Ryan Johnston, Joel Hanley, Jacob de la Rose, Bobby Farnham, Chris Terry, Stefan Matteau, Max Friberg, Charles Hudon, and newly assigned defenceman Mark Barberio.
The next game of the Colemans Cup is Friday night in Corner Brook.
