The first annual Northern Pro-Hockey Challenge opened up on Friday night at the Pee Wee arena and the many fans in attendance were treated to some entertaining hockey. The game was the first of a two-game series being played between professional players from Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury in an annual charity event.
The game featured a number of current NHL players the likes of Pittsburgh Penguin Rico Fata, Minnesota Wild winger Andrew Brunette, who also helped organize the event along with current Soo Greyhound assistant coach Denny Lambert, who spent some time in the NHL with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, the Nashville Predators, the Ottawa Senators and the Atlanta Thrashers. San Jose Shark forward Jonathan Cheechoo also took part in the game as a member of the Sudbury entry.
The Sault entry was coached by former Greyhound bench boss Craig Hartsburg, who was assisted by current Hound coach Marty Abrams, while Steve Richardson led the Sudbury team in the game.
The packed house of local hockey fans had reason to cheer in the opening period as the Sault team, the Lock City Bulls, struck first as Chris Thorburn put the Bulls on the board at 17:04. Sudbury tied the game late in the period as Brent Gauvreau scored just as time expired to tie the game at 1.
Prior to the second period starting the two teams had the first of two skills competitions with a goal on the line for the winning team. The Lock City trio of Lambert, Thorburn and Aaron Gavey hit all 12 targets they faced to win the competition as Brunette, Gauvreau and Sean Blanchard managed to hit eight targets for Sudbury.
In the second period, Sudbury tied the game midway through the period as Blanchard made up for his target shooting performance by tying the game at 11:39. The goal stood up and sent the game into the second skills event tied at 2.
The second skills event featured a breakaway competition, another event the Bulls would manage to win. After falling behind 1-0, the Bulls saw their last two shooters, Craig Kennedy and Jeremy Rebek score on Sudbury goaltender Mike Smith to take the relay 2-1.
The pace in the third period picked up as Sudbury looked to tie the game while the Bulls looked to pull away. At 11:34, Blanchard managed to tie the game again converting a feed from Brunette. Just over a minute later Lambert gave the Bulls the lead again. Brunette, with just under three minutes left to play tied the game again as he scored unassisted at 17:01.
With that being settled, the game was officially declared a tie, but fans were treated to some added entertainment as the teams decided to break the tie by way of a shootout. Andrew Brunette opened the shootout as he was stopped by Bulls goaltender Brian Finley, who entered the game at the beginning of the second period in relief of Kevin Hodson. Patrick Jarrett then shot for the Bulls, and was stopped by Sudbury netminder Brock McGillis.
The first goal was scored as Aaron Gavey took the second Bulls shot and beat McGillis cleanly to give the locals a 1-0 lead. Jonathan Cheechoo then used the next shot to tie the shootout by beating Finley. The two teams then traded shots with no scoring to send the game into a sudden death shootout. The Bulls wasted little time winning the shootout as Jeremy Rebek scored on the first Bulls sudden death shot.
Following the game, Lambert, who played a big role in helping organize the event along with Andrew Brunette, said he was very pleased with the entire event and the way it was supported by the community.
“We knew the community would support something like this,” Lambert said. “I think it was entertaining for the fans. Especially with the talent that was here, (all the players here) really know how to play the game.”
Lambert also explained the reasoning behind the game officially ending in a tie. “It’s officially a tie (heading to Sudbury),” Lambert said. “We set the rules beforehand. The ending was for the fans. It was entertaining and I hope they did enjoy it. This is exactly what we wanted.”
Lambert went on to say that he hopes the event will turn into an annual one as the sponsorship was strong and the fan support, as evidenced by the solid turnout on Friday night shows, the event would be supported by the community.
Proceeds from the game held in Sault Ste. Marie would go to support the Canadian Cancer Society. The game being held in Sudbury on Sunday, which is being played at the Tom Davies Arena in Walden, will see the proceeds from that game go to the Sudbury Regional Hospital.