ST. JOHN’S MOVES INTO TIE FOR FIRST AT TELUS CUP

LÉVIS, QUE. – St. John’s has sent teams to the National Midget Championship six times prior to this year. Only one of those teams was successful in winning a medal at the tournament.

This year could be another success, as the St. John’s Fog Devils are off to a torrid start at the 2010 TELUS Cup. On Tuesday night against the host Lévis Commandeurs, the Fog Devils earned a 6-2 win to improve to 1-0-1 and move into a tie with the Notre Dame Hounds for first place in the standings.

Zach O’Brien (St. John’s, N.L.) scored a shorthanded, highlight-reel goal 16 seconds into the third period – his second of the night – and once again led the Fog Devils. O’Brien had three points on Monday night during a 3-3 tie with Antoine-Girouard and his five points give him the tournament lead.

While O’Brien was strong, the Fog Devils’ best forward on this night was Mike Cole (St. John’s, N.L.) who had a hat trick. Cole’s line, considered the second line on this St. John’s team, proved to be a force throughout the night and gave the Commandeurs trouble in their own end. Dylan Brake added a single for St. John’s.

The host Commandeurs’ two goals were scored by Yannick Boucher (Lévis, Que.).

O’Brien’s goal early in the third period got hockey fans turning their heads at the Lévis Arena in a “can you believe that” moment. With his team down a player, O’Brien scooped up the puck in his own end and blazed through the neutral zone, finding himself in a one-on-one with a Commandeurs defenceman. O’Brien turned the defenceman inside-out and then snapped a perfect shot at the opposite corner which eluded Lévis goaltender Derek Clavet (Montmagny, Que.).

The Fog Devils face off against the Hounds on Wednesday afternoon, with first place on the line at this stage of the TELUS Cup. The top four teams after the preliminary round concludes on Friday will advance to Saturday’s semi-finals.