Baldwin Highlanders - 1975 & 1988 AAA

Special Report provided by Canon McMillan Hockey JOHNSTOWN -- The longest road trip of the season for Canon-McMillan almost proved to be a dead end for their undefeated season, but the Big Macs were just too powerful for the Somerset Eagles to stop. In the end, a late rally by Somerset wasn't enough, and the top-ranked Big Macs prevailed, 3-2. Canon Mac didn't have a problem finding their legs after arriving in Johnstown, dominating the opening period in overwhelming fashion. But they did have a problem locating their scoring touch. The Eagles could only muster 1 shot on goal in the opening frame, while the Big Macs put 10 on the opposing net and buzzed around it all period. Neither team was able to find the back of the net, though, and Somerset was relieved to see zeros on both sides of the scoreboard. Doug Stanton would break the tie with a stellar shift early in the 2nd period. Stanton put the Big Macs ahead 1-0 at the 10:10 mark with a low wrister from the bottom of the right wing circle that found its way past Somerset netminder Wes Cramer. Justin Cormack assisted on the goal, and got another helper on another goal by Stanton 26 seconds later. This time it was a low wrist shot again that gave Stanton his league-leading 29th goal of the season. Cramer then returned to his first period form and held the Big Macs off the board despite a furious onslaught. Cramer made 10 saves again in the 2nd period, and at the other end, CM goaltender Mike O'Neill was making efficient work of the 6 shots he saw through the first 30 minutes of play. The Canon Mac defense was playing exceptionally well in front of him, and the few chances that got to the net were all turned away by O'Neill. A pretty glove save with 4:25 left in the second stopped the Eagles' best scoring chance prior to the ice cut. The Big Macs looked to put away the Eagle in the third, and an early power play gave them the opportunity to do so. CM buzzed around the net, but Cramer kept the puck in front of him and kept the 2-goal differential in tact. Officiating in Johnstown always poses a challenge for visiting teams, and this game was no different. Penalties 14 seconds apart left Canon Mac down two men at 9:33 of the period, and the Somerset power play would use the advantage to sneak back in to the game. K.J. Elowek took a pass down low from Alex Olsen, then threw a pass across the slot to Craig Eddy, who deposited it in the back of the CM net at 8:08. Canon-McMillan was able to kill off the rest of the 5-on-4 advantage, then quickly restored their 2-goal lead. A shot up high by Stanton deflected off Cramer and in to the air above the Somerset goal. As the puck came down towards the crease, Jesse Patnesky was there to knock it out of mid-air and in to the open net. The referees debated the call, but in the end it was clear the puck was below the crossbar. The Eagles weren't about to let Cramer's strong performance end there, though. Another 5-on-3 advantage was granted to them, and they made the most of it again. A pass from the left wing circle by Mathias Eliasson deflected off the heel of a CM skate and past O'Neill at 5:19 to make the score 3-2. Olsen received his 2nd assist on the goal, and the home team had aspirations of an upset. CM once again killed off the remaining penalty time, then continued to play tough in their defensive zone. Somerset was never able to set up a prime scoring opportunity despite the press to tie the game. Cramer took the loss in spite of a stellar, 30-save effort for Somerset, who falls to 3-10 on the year. O'Neill improved his personal record to 3-0 for the season by making 11 saves, while Canon-McMillan remains unbeaten at 14-0-1. Somerset next welcomes Bishop Canevin to Johnstown for a Sunday night match-up at Planet Ice. Canon-McMillan returns home to play one of the biggest games of the season in Monday night, when they host West Allegheny in a showdown of the top 2 teams in AA.