News from the Rock

By Randy Nicholson
Maple Leafs remain unbeaten in preseason.


The St. John’s Maple Leafs improved their record to 2-0-0 in the preseason with a 5-4 overtime victory against the Hamilton Bulldogs on Friday. Bobby House (2G,A) and rookie, Alexei Ponikarovsky (G,2A), led the club with 3 points each. Other goal scorers for St. John’s were David Cooper and Chad Allan. Jason Sessa had a pair of assists in the win. Mike Minard played the entire game for St. John’s, stopping 27 of the 31 shots he faced. The Maple Leafs led 3-2 after the first period and held a 4-2 lead after two periods. St. John’s also outshot Hamilton 44-31. Referee, Mike Hasenfrantz, handed out 112 minutes in penalties, including 57PIM to the Maple Leafs and 55PIM to the Bulldogs. Overall St. John’s was 2 for 13 with the man advantage, while Hamilton went 4 for 14.


* St. John’s outshot Hamilton 18-4 in the second period of Friday’s game.


* Bobby House and Alexei Ponikarovsky lead the club in preseason scoring with 3 points each.


* David Cooper has scored in both preseason games for St. John’s.


* There were 3 fights in the Hamilton contest, including 2 involving Jacques Lariviere.


* Lance Galbraith leads the team in penalty minutes with 14.


* Forward Steve Dumonski joined the Maple Leafs for the remainder of training camp on Saturday. Dumonski played last season with the Richmond Renegades and Pensacola IcePilots (ECHL) where he scored a combined 49 points (15G,34) and accumulated 207PIM in 66 games.


* Additions to the Maple Leafs roster are expected late tonight or tomorrow as the Toronto Maple Leafs begin to trim their roster after a 3 game Western Canada Roadtrip.


GAME SUMMARY
ST. JOHN'S @ HAMILON - Friday, September 22

GOAL SCORING:

1st Period 
HAM Lent (Smyth, Linnik) 5:29 (PP)
STJ Cooper (Rourke, Apps) 7:12 (PP)
STJ Allan (Ponikarovsky, House) 7:59 (PP)
STJ House (Ponikarovsky) 10:03 (ES)
HAM Cucuz (Kozel, Gorewich) 18:33 (PP)

2nd Period 
STJ Ponikarovsky (Sessa, Hakansson) 7:48 (ES)

3rd Period 
HAM Hartnell (-) 8:21 (PP)
HAM Laraque (Theriault, Smyth) 19:38 (PP)

Overtime STJ House (Sessa) 2:05 (SH)