(Toronto, ON) – Buffalo Junior Sabres forward and Ontario Junior Hockey League leading scorer Tyler Gjurich is now just one goal away from the 50-goal mark, thanks to a two-goal performance including his second consecutive game winner in Friday night’s 3-2 win at St. Michael’s.
Buffalo’s Pat Egan put the visitors on the scoreboard with his 26th goal of the season just 1:56 into the first period, assisted by Nick Scamurra. Gjurich (in photo, courtesy OJHL Images)scored his first goal of the game (his 48th of the season) at the 12:31 mark of the first, assisted by Tim Kielich.
Gjurich’s second goal of the game, his 49th of the season, came shorthanded at the 2:54 mark of the second, assisted by Ryan Schmelzer. St. Michael’s got on the scoreboard when Matt Buckles notched his 39th goal of the year for the Buzzers. St. Michael’s added a power play goal in the third period but Buffalo held tough and outshot the Buzzers, 47 to 35, to secure the win.
The game turned rough in the third period, with Nick Scamurra involved in a fight with St. Michael’s Buzzer Jake Clements at the 4:06 mark. Teammates Pat Egan and Nathan Pelligra were both sent off following another scuffle at the 5:59 mark that also involved Buzzer Bron Loiselle. Pelligra was assessed a “third man in” penalty and was expected to face league sanctions as early as Saturday.
The Jr. Sabres now hold first place by one point in the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s West Division, with a game in hand on second place Georgetown. Buffalo next travels to Oakville, Ontario for a Saturday night matchup against the host Blades, followed by a home game Sunday against the Mississauga Chargers, beginning at 7:30pm at the Northtown Center at Amherst.
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NOTES: Tonight’s game was rescheduled from one week ago, the result of a snowstorm that postponed the entire OJHL schedule… Head coach Michael Peca and assistant general manager Pat Fisher will be in Quebec City as the Jr. Sabres 12U team competes in the Quebec Pee-Wee International Tournament, a prestigious hockey event in which many current and former NHL stats have played. Fisher has been tapped to serve as an assistant coach under Rory Fitzpatrick, while Peca will be there to support his son, Trevor, who is on the Buffalo Jr. Sabres 12U roster… Sunday’s home game against Mississauga is also the Jr. Sabres’ second annual Alumni Reunion Night. Former players and coaches are invited, and admission for alumni will be free followed by a reception at Santora’s on Millersport Highway.
