Mooretown Flags go 1 -1 in Pre-season Weekend Action

sunday september 7, 2014

The Mooretown Flags Jr. C hockey team traveled to Dresden Friday night and took a 9 - 6 loss.  Sam Jasmin led the scoring with 2 goals and singles went to Ryan Lyle, Aiden Chapdelain, Kyle Smith and Dan Lumley who also had 3 assists.

"We would put that one down to not being mentally prepared and defensively it was just all over the map." Head Coach Gino Vitella said about the game.

Things were different in the last preseason game when the Flags hosted the Wallaceburg Lakers Saturday where they took a solid 7 - 0 shutout win.

"Seven nothing, I can’t argue with the defensive play compared to our game last night." Vitella said "It’s a lot better to go into the season with a game like that than a loss."

Justin VanBuskirk

Caden Fleming gave the Flags a 1 - 0 lead after the first period with Kyle Smith and Joey Stock assisting.  In the second period Dan Lumley from Kyle Smith scored the first goal of the period. Aiden Chapdelaine scored the second from Justin VanBuskirk and the final goal of the period was scored by Kyle Smith on a power play with Joey Stock earning the assist.  In the third Justin VanBuskirk scored two back to back unassisted goals and the final goal of the game was by Joey Stock assisted by Jeff Williams.

Mooretown outshot Wallaceburg 49 - 30.

Sharing the shut out win were Brandon Johnson and Riley Collins who recently signed on with the team as the second goalie. 

Keelor Irwin and Veteran netminder Joel Sowinski shared the net for Wallaceburg.

Both teams took a total of twenty-eight minutes in penalties on eleven infractions.  Wallaceburg went zero on seven power play opportunities, Mooretown went one on ten opportunities.

After the game the Flags put to ink their latest player with the signing of Justin VanBuskirk from North Street Michigan. 

"VanBuskirk got three goals in the first game and two tonight so he’s very strong." said Vitella "We're happy to be signing him."

In total the 5'10", 165 lb right handed forward tallied six points in the two preseason games he played in with five goals and one assist.

"I like it a lot and everyone has made me feel welcomed." VanBuskirk said of his signing after the game.

(l-r) Corey Laframboise, Gino Vitella, Justin VanBuskirk, Brad Riley

VanBuskirk played in the Catholic League in Michigan last season and when asked if he felt their was a difference between Canada and the US when it came to hockey, he replied laughing. "I’d say the passion. Everyone in America they love hockey, but these guys are a little more intense."

Vitella also announce the signing of 16 year old Ethan Dupont.  The 5'10" 160 lb right winger is a former Lambton Jr. Sting AAA Minor Midget who was selected in the 12th round by the Sudbury Wolves in the 2014 OHL Prioirty selection.

The Flags roster is about 98% complete.

"We are looking forward to making the final selections and getting the team ready for next week.  We’ve got a couple of spots still to fill and looks like the Jr. B has some guys that might be moving around so I don’t want to make any decisions yet." Vitella said.

Added to the roster to date:  Riley Collins, Brandon Johnson, Colton Osborne, David Addley, Joey Stock, Matt Brandon, Brent Blais, Austin Hewton, Kyle Smith, Aiden Chapdelaine, Dan Lumley, Justin VanBuskirk, Justin Melo, Jeff Williams, Caden Fleming, Brett Thompson, Ryan Lyle, Ethan Dupont.

The Flags will open the 2014-15 Great Lakes Jr. C league season at home against Wallaceburg on Saturday September 13 at the Moore Sports Complex with a 7:30 pm start.