Majors Reach The 100 Point Plateau For The First Time In Franchise History

March 11, 2011 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors News Release


Brampton, ON - The Mississauga St. Michael's Majors were in Brampton this evening for their final trip to the Powerade Centre this season. Thanks to five unanswered goals and a Devante Smith-Pelly hat trick, the Majors earned a 6-2 victory. The victory pushed the Majors winning streak to six and it was also their seventh win in as many tries this season against their Peel Region rivals. The win also meant the Majors reached one more milestone with the franchise's first 100 point season in the modern era.

There was a flurry of activity in the first period as the two rivals appeared intent on scoring early and often. The two teams combined for four goals in the first ten minutes of the game and five goals in total in the first period. The first goal came just 50 seconds into the game off the stick of Devante Smith-Pelly. It ws his 33rd goal of the season and was assisted by Chris DeSousa. The Battalion wasted no time answering back, with a goal from Matt MacLeod just over a minute later. MacLeod scored his fifth goal of the season on the first shot of the game for Brampton, to tie it up at one apiece. Just over a minute after that, with Marc Cantin in the box serving a kneeing penalty, the Battalion struck again. This time it was Dylan Blujus with his fourth goal of the season at 3:21. The powerplay goal gave the Battalion a 2-1 lead. The Majors responded at 8:57 when Stuart Percy scored just his fourth goal of the season. The goal came with time about to run out on a Stephon Thorne hooking penalty and tied the game up at two. At 16:07, Justin Shugg scored his team leading 38th goal of the season to give the Majors the lead. DeSousa had his second assist of the night on the Shugg goal. The Majors outshot Brampton 13-9 in the first period.

While the scoring slowed down in the second period the Majors did add to their lead, and it was some familar faces providing the offense. The first goal of the period, to make it 4-2 Mississauga, came from Smith-Pelly as he scored his second of the night. Brett Flemming had the first assist while DeSousa was credited with the second assist, his third helper of the game. The goal came on the powerplay as Philip Lane was serving a hooking penalty that had been assessed in the first period. Smith-Pelly struck again at 14:04 and it was on the powerplay once again as Matt MacLeod was serving a tripping penalty. Justin Shugg did most of the work with some great stick handling through the Brampton defense before he passed the puck off to DeSousa, who found Smith-Pelly in front of an open net. The powerplay goal gave Smith-Pelly the hat trick, his 35th goal of the season, and gave the Majors a 5-2 lead. That score would stand until the end of the second period as the two teams went to the locker rooms with the Majors leading 5-2. Mississauga outshot Brampton 15-10 in the second period.

The Majors added one more goal in the third period, this time off the stick of Jordan Mayer. At 6:59, Mayer got the puck and skated out in front of the Brampton net where he fired a wrist shot past Brampton goaltender Matej Machovsky. Joe Cramarossa had the assist on the Mayer goal, making it 6-2 Majors. The goal also made it five unanswered goals for the Majors as the Battalion did not record a point after their second shot of the game. The Mayer goal proved to be the last one of the night, as the Majors went home with a 6-2 victory. Shots on goal for the third period were 8-7 in favour of the Majors.

JP Anderson was back in net for the Majors tonight and made 24 saves on 26 shots for the victory. Matej Machovsky made 30 saves on 36 shots, taking the loss. Justin Shugg was the third star of the game with a goal and an assist, Chris DeSousa was the second star with four assists and with the hat trick, Devante Smith-Pelly was named the first star of the game.

The Majors will have tomorrow off before heading to Ottawa on Sunday to face the 67's. Catch the game on Rogers TV Peel Region or listen live on The Haze FM.ca. Brampton will be looking for revenge next Friday when these two teams meet again for the final time this season. Puck drop is 7:30 PM at the Hershey Centre. Tickets are available by calling 905-502-7788 x. 1 or by visiting the Hershey Centre box office.

MasterCard Memorial Cup ticket packages are also still available, starting at just $495.00 plus applicable taxes and fees. The tournament will be played at the Hershey Centre from May 20-29 so don't miss out, pick up your package today by calling 905-502-7788 x. 1 or by visiting ticketmaster.ca.



Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 11, 2011


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