Majors double-up Titans to improve to 2-0 at U-13 event

THUNDER BAY – A strong Markham Majors side registered the game’s first six goals, then held off a resilient effort from the Ottawa Valley Titans, before prevailing 6-3 Wednesday at the Fort William Gardens in opening day action of the All-Ontario under-13 AAA championship.

The victory saw Markham improve to 2-0 at the seven-team provincial affair, while Ottawa Valley dropped to 0-1.

Special teams saw the Majors’ Justin Boudreau supply a shorthanded effort at 6:27 of the first period, followed by Carter Cross connecting on the power play a couple of shifts later.

An even strength effort off the stick of Colton Cribari put the Greater Toronto Hockey League title holders go ahead by three after the opening frame.

Building on that, Jack Samek and Boudreau added others early in the middle stanza, before teammate Mason Willet made it 6-0 midway through the contest.

Battling back late in the period, the Titans saw both Kaleb Peplinskie and Spencer Greenhalgh convert on the man advantage to pull the Hockey Eastern Ontario representative to within four.

They did get one more with 2:30 to play in the game, thanks to Nathan Craig, to round out the scoring.

Earning player of the game selections were Boudreau and Greenhalgh.

Next up for the Majors is a 2 p.m. meeting Thursday versus the 0-2 Kenora Thistles.

As for the Titans, they have two games on the docket as they take on the 1-0 Whitby Wildcats as noon before closing out Thursday against Kenora at 8 p.m.

Photo credit: James Mirabelli