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DeSousa Ends the Majors Losing Streak in Kitchener

February 18, 2011 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors News Release


Kitchener, ON - The Mississauga St. Michael's Majors were in Kitchener this evening for their first game of the season against the Rangers. In the midst of a season high, three game losing streak, the Majors were looking to get back on track. It was a wild game, but the Majors eventually came out on top, 5-4 in the shootout.

After giving up the first goal in their three straight losses, the Majors were looking to strike first. That goal became more difficult early as Marc Cantin took a high sticking penalty at 1:46. The Rangers took advantage, thanks to their newest offensive weapon, Jerry D'Amigo, who was recently sent down to Kitchener after spending the season in the American Hockey League. The Rangers did a good job of cycling the puck before they found D'Amigo out in front of JP Anderson. D'Amigo proceeded to shoot five hole, beating Anderson, and giving Kitchener a 1-0 lead. The Rangers expanded their lead a few minutes later. It started with Ben Thomson doing a great job of skating the puck through the Majors defense and to the net. The puck then found its way onto Tyler Randell's stick and he tapped it into the open net to make it 2-0 Kitchener. Thomson and Andrew Crescenzi had the assists. The Majors would fight back in the second half of the period, thanks to Chris DeSousa. DeSousa got his stick on the puck and found his way in behind the Rangers defense. Skating in alone on Brandon Maxwell, DeSousa went five hole to make it 2-1. DeSousa's goal was unassisted at 12:46. Shots on goal after the first were 15-14 in favour of the Majors.

The second period started with the Majors putting some pressure on Kitchener although they could not capitalize with a goal. At 3:21, the momentum shifted back to Kitchener as Michael D'Orazio took a tripping penalty. The Majors did a good job killing the D'Orazio penalty although, moments after the penalty ended, Gabriel Landeskog rang a backhanded shot off the post to give the Majors a scare. Several minutes later, Landeskog found the back of the net as he went stick side on Anderson to make it 3-1 Kitchener at 9:14. DeSousa answered for the Majors once again just over two minutes later when he parked himself in front of the Kitchener net and knocked a Gregg Sutch pass into the back of the net, to pull the Majors back within one. Cramarossa assisted on the DeSousa goal along with Sutch. The Rangers outshot the Majors 16-7 in the second period.

In the first half of the third period, the two teams traded minor penalties but neither team capitalized on their powerplay opportunities despite some good scoring chances. Then at 13:38, Devante Smith-Pelly took a tripping penalty that sent the Rangers back to the powerplay. It was Landeskog at the centre of the action once again as the Rangers captain made a beautiful pass to Akeson, leaving him alone with the puck in front of JP Anderson. Akeson proceeded to pull off a great move on Anderson, and put the puck in the back of the Mississauga net, making it 4-2. The Majors then pulled Anderson with over a minute and a half left to play and it paid off. First, a DeSousa shot created a flurry if activity in front of the Kitchener net. While several Majors pounded away at the puck, it was DeSousa who put the rebound in the net and brought the Majors within one, while scoring his third goal of the game for the hat trick. Then, with 11 seconds left to play, Andrew Crescenzi took a delay of game penalty and with Anderson on the bench, the Majors had six skaters to Kitchener's four. Off the ensuing face off, Justin Shugg took a slap shot from the point and Rob Flick put home the rebound to tie the score, sending the game into overtime. The Majors outshot Kitchener 16-9 in the third period.

Overtime would solve nothing and the two teams would go to a shootout to decide who would go home with the extra point.

The Rangers chose to go first and sent out Gabriel Landeskog. Landeskog went backhand but couldn't get the puck past Anderson. The Majors countered with Justin Shugg, who broke in hard and was challenged by Maxwell, who tripped Shugg up, keeping the shootout scoreless. Kitchener then sent out Michael Catenacci, who also tried to go backhand, and was also unsuccessful. Captain Casey Cizikas then took his shot for the Majors. He tried to go stick side on Maxwell, but was also denied. Kitchener's next shooter was Jerry D'Amigo. D'Amigo almost lost the puck while he was breaking in and ended up taking a weak shot on Anderson that was stopped easily. Devante Smith-Pelly was up next for Mississauga. With a chance to end the game, Smith-Pelly broke straight in on Maxwell and was stopped, meaning the contest would go to extra shooters. With three points on the night, Kitchener sent out Jason Akeson, who did a stutter step and tried to go stick side but Anderson stuck out his pad and made the save. Fittingly, DeSousa was the hero in the end. After recording a hat trick in regulation, DeSousa went backhand on Maxwell scoring the first and only goal of the shootout, giving Mississauga a thrilling comeback victory, and ending the losing streak.

JP Anderson was in net for the Majors once again this evening and faced 41 shots, making 37 saves. Brandon Maxwell made 36 saves on 40 shots, taking the loss for Kitchener. The games three stars were Landeskog (3rd), Akeson (2nd) and DeSousa (1st).

The Majors return home on Sunday to face the Niagara IceDogs. Puck drop is 2:00 PM. The team then faces the Rangers in a re-match of tonight's game on Family Day this Monday, game time is once again, 2:00 PM. The Hershey Centre box office is open on Saturday and fans are encouraged to get their seats early as tickets are going fast. Don't forget that Dora the Explorer and Spongebob Squarepants will be on the concourse from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM for a special meet and greet. The first 100 fans to meet Dora and Spongebob will receive a free gift.

MasterCard Memorial Cup ticket packages are also still available, starting at just $495.00. Platinum packages are already sold out so get your tickets now. Call 905-502-7788 x. 1 or visit ticketmaster.ca for tickets.

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