Titans top Thistles in All-Ontario U13 match-up

THUNDER BAY – Cole Krottner had a goal and assisted on the game-winner to help lead the Ottawa Valley Titans to a 3-1 triumph over the Kenora Thistles Friday afternoon in Day 3 action at the All-Ontario under-13 AAA championship, presented by BioSteel, at the Fort William Gardens.

The opening 15 minutes was scoreless with the starting goalkeepers, Kenora’s Maddox Boutette, and Ottawa Valley’s Darcy O’Hare doing their part.

The Titans were quick to convert to begin the middle session however as Krottner darted in off the draw and slid in a low shot under Boutette, just nine seconds in.

Krottner then helped feed Miller Zavitske less than a minute later to make it 2-0.

A two-man advantage helped the Hockey Eastern Ontario champions go up by three as Kaleb Peplinski whipped one upstairs from between the circles.

Kenora cut into the deficit in the latter stages of the second when Aiden Moen left one for Kai Dingwell in the left circle and saw him fire his chance into the bottom right corner.

A tight-checking finale frame saw it finish without another goal to complete the low-scoring affair that saw both clubs compete hard throughout.

Picking up their respective team player of the game awards were Dingwall of the Thistles and Krottner for the Titans.

Photo credit: James Mirabelli