Kitchener Gets Revenge on the Majors

February 21, 2011 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors News Release


Mississauga, ON - The Mississauga St. Michael's Majors were back in action on home ice this afternoon, hosting the Kitchener Rangers in the team's annual Family Day game. Despite being cheered on by a season high 5452 fans, the Majors fell to the Rangers, 5-2.

The Majors got on the board first to start the game with a familiar face providing the offense. After a hat trick and the shootout winner, Chris DeSousa found his way onto the scoresheet this afternoon with a goal at 11:13 on the powerplay. Maxim Kitsyn set up the goal with a great pass in front of the Rangers net, leaving DeSousa with the tap in. Stuart Percy had the other assist. Kitchener answer back less then a minute later. On a delayed penalty call, Rangers Captain Gabriel Landeskog put one past JP Anderson to even the score. Landeskog's goal was assisted by Jamie Doombosch and Michael Catenacci at 12:02. The first period came to a close with the scored tied, and Kitchener outshooting Mississauga, 8-7.

The second period began with a five minute powerplay for the Majors, after a slew-foot penalty to Cattenaci at the end of the first. Cattenaci was ejected from the game. This gave the Majors a great chance to pull ahead but at 1:09 of the second, OHL leading scorer Jason Akeson flew down the left wing and snapped a wrist shot that blew past JP Andersons glove and into the top corner for a short handed tally. The remainder of the powerplay saw no really good chances for the Majors. Teams traded chances back and forth until 16:51 when the Rangers were on a powerplay after a D'Orazio tripping penalty. Rangers leading scorer on defense, Ryan Murphy, let a shot go at a screened Anderson and the puck went off the post and in. Despite outshooting the Rangers 10-6 in the period, the Majors were now trailing 3-1.

The third period began with another stellar play by the Rangers Akeson as he dug the puck out from behind the net and sent a no look pass to his linemate Matthew Tipoff and he snapped another quick one by Anderson's glove hand at 4:32. Just when it seemed the Majors were down and out they pushed back as DeSousa got his second goal of the game and fifth in two games against Kitchener this year, as he took a feed from Jordan Mayer in the slot, stepped around a defender and snapped a 5-hole shot that beat Brandon Maxwell. Although the Majors had a lot of chances in the remainder of the game they couldn't make like Friday and pull another miraculous comeback. The final score was 5-2 Rangers.

Aside from being pulled in favour of the extra attacked, JP Anderson went the distance for the Majors, making 15 saves on 19 shots in the loss. Brandon Maxwell made 25 saves on 27 shots in the Rangers win. The games three stars were Tipoff (3rd), DeSousa (2nd), and Akeson (1st).

The Majors will be back in action on home ice this Friday when they host the Brampton Battalion at 7:30. Don't forget that the game on Friday, March 4th will begin at 7:00 PM, as it is being broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet.

MasterCard Memorial Cup ticket packages are also on sale now, beginning at just $495.00. Call 905-502-7788 x. 1 or visit ticketmaster.ca to get your package today.



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2011


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