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Cizikas Hat Trick Is Not Enough to Beat the Wolves

January 8, 2011 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors News Release


Sudbury, ON - The Majors closed out their northern road swing tonight in Sudbury with a 6-4 loss to the Wolves. Sudbury capitalized on their chances with four powerplay goals in the game.

The two teams gave fans plenty of excitement early with a wild first period. Three minutes into the game, Wolves defenseman Ryan Hanes took a tripping penalty and the Majors wasted no time capitalizing. Just 22 seconds into the powerplay, Mississauga's newest weapon, Maxim Kitsyn, buried one past Alain Valiquette to make it 1-0 Majors. Casey Cizikas and Dylan DeMelo had the assists. Not long after, Sudbury would score a powerplay goal of their own. While Corey Bureau was serving a minor penalty for tripping, Andrey Kuchin put home a rebound for his fourth goal of the season, to tie the score at 1. Just 13 seconds later, the Wolves would take the lead thanks to Alex Racino's fifth goal of the season at 6:16. Joshua Leivo got the assist. Sudbury would add to their lead at 16:54 when Kuchin got his second of the game and fifth of the season to make it 3-1. At 19:37, Cizikas scored to get the Majors within a goal heading into the intermission. Shots were 9-8 Sudbury after the first.

The second period began with a change in the Mississauga net as Anthony Peters took over for JP Anderson. The Majors took five minor penalties in the second and the Wolves took full advantage with three powerplay goals. DeMelo started the period with an interference penalty at 0:36 that allowed Sudbury to expand their lead almost immediately as Marcus Foligno scored his 17th of the season at the 0:40 mark. Then, it was Maxim Kitsyn yet again, answering back for Mississauga 7:38 with his third goal of the season and second of the game. Just like on Kitsyn's first goal of the night, Cizikas had the assist. It was all Sudbury for the rest of the period as the Wolves continued to take advantage of Majors penalties with two more powerplay goals. The first one came at 9:59 when Mike Lomas scored his 19th of the season to make it 5-3 and then O'Dell scored his fifth of the season at 11:30 to expand the Wolves lead to 6-3. McFadden and Matthew Campagna had the assists on the Lomas goal while Michael Sgarbossa and Lomas had the assists on the O'Dell goal. Despite peppering Alain Valiquette with 17 shots, the Majors could only muster the Kitsyn goal, and went into the second intermission trailing 6-3.

Cizikas and Kitsyn continued to control the Majors offence in the third period. This time it was Cizikas' turn to score and Kitsyn's turn to help as Cizikas put one past Valiquette 2:28 into the third to make it 6-4 Sudbury. Alex Cord had the second assist on the goal. Cizikas scored his third goal of the night at 19:48 to make it 6-5 but that was as close as the Majors would get as the Wolves recorded their first win over the Majors this season.

JP Anderson got the start in net for Mississauga and had a night he will look to put behind him. After allowing 3 goals on 9 shots in the first period, he was pulled in favour of Anthony Peters in the second. Peters made 12 saves on 15 shots in the final two periods. Alain Valiquette made 41 saves on 46 shots for the win. The games three stars were O'Dell (3rd), Cizikas (2nd) and Kuchin (1st).

Casey Cizikas has looked quite comfortable back in the double blue since returning from the World Juniors. He factored in on every Majors goal tonight with five points and with his goal last night, he has six points in two games since his return. Newcomer Maxim Kitsyn has also looked at home through two games as a Major. The Russian sniper already has 3 goals and 2 assists in his young OHL career.

The Majors will now head to Brampton next Thursday to face their Peel Region rivals at 7:00 PM before returning home to face the Belleville Bulls Friday night at the Hershey Centre. Visit the Hershey Centre box office or call 905-502-7788 x. 1 for tickets. Don't forget that the OHL trade deadline is this Monday so stay tuned to stmichaelsmajors.com to see if the Majors make any moves.

MasterCard Memorial Cup ticket packages are still on sale. Get six Majors flex pack tickets and seats for the entire MasterCard Memorial Cup for as little as $549.00. Visit stmichaelsmajors.com or call 905-502-7788 x. 1 for details.

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