BRANTFORD, ONTARIO – The Brantford Titans concluded their 4 game home stand on Saturday when they welcomed the Port Colborne Sailors to the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre. Both teams came into the game off of wins, both against the Ayr Centennials. James Gall started in net for the Titans while the Sailors countered with Trent Hutchinson.
There would be no shortage of scoring in the first period as the Sailors and Titans combined for six goals in the opening frame. Giacomo Del Priore got it started as he received a pass at the front of the net and with James Gall out of position, he had the entire to net to shoot at and he made no mistake. However, during the celebration after the goal, he would get called for roughing as he shoved a Titans defender out of the way and the Titans would make him pay. Matteo Gauthier received a pass from Gavin Christie and Gauthier would go off the post and to the back of the net to tie the game on the power play. Quinton Kim-Lemay also collected an assist on the goal. Just over four minutes later, Jake Salvatore would get the lead back for his team at 10:50. Nathan Boyle got the assist on Salvatore’s third of the season. 51 seconds later, Adam Stipan would get the game tied again. His fourth beat Trent Hutchinson to make it 2-2. Ryan Scriven and Joey Kapel grabbed the assists. 43 seconds after that, Hunter Vilanez would fire a rocket to the top corner on the glove side of Gall to restore Port Colborne’s one goal lead. PJ Alexander and Nathan Boyle collected the assists. With 2:08 left, Will Bray would get his stick up high on Kaleb Frank, resulting in the Titans getting their second opportunity on the power play. Trent Hutchinson would do his best to keep it at 3-2 but with 15 seconds left, he would allow a rebound out to Kaleb Frank who found the top part of the net from in tight to make it 3-3. Matteo Gauthier collected the only assist on the Titans second power play goal of the period. The two teams would head into the first intermission tied at 3 on the scoreboard and tied at 17 on the shot clock.
The Titans would control the pace of play to start the second period as they came out flying. Trent Hutchinson had his hands full early in the second as the Titans fired everything they could at the Sailors net. Port Colborne started to push back as the period continued and it would lead to their fourth goal. Hunter Vilanez potted his second of the game to make it 4-3. The Titans would have an opportunity on the power play midway through the game to try and tie the game but the puck would end up in the wrong net. PJ Alexander would score his second short handed goal of the season to put his team in front by two. The Titans would get themselves into some penalty trouble in the late stages of the period. Chase Bailey-Reid would receive a two minute minor and a game misconduct for a check from behind. The score would be 5-3 Port Colborne after forty minutes. Brantford led in the shot department after 2 periods 33-31.
The third period would start very similar to the second. The Titans came out of the intermission with all kinds of speed and with a great pace but could not beat Sailors goaltender Trent Hutchinson. The Titans spent the majority of the final frame in the Port Colborne zone, as well as heavily outshooting the Sailors in the third 15-3. Brantford would pull James Gall with just over three minutes to go and the pressure would continue with the 6 on 5 advantage. Wicklander would also hit the post in the dying minutes but could not get a good bounce into the back of the net. Jake Salvatore would score his second of the game into the empty net to seal the victory as the Port Colborne Sailors win the game 6-3. The Titans outshot the Sailors 48-34 in the game.
The Titans are back at it tomorrow in Welland against the Jr. Canadians. The next home game for the Brantford Titans will be on Thursday, October 23rd at 7:00pm at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre.
