Gregg Sutch scored a pair of goals Saturday as Mississauga avoided their first losing streak of the year with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Kingston. The two-goal game, the third of Sutch's junior career, gives the checking wing a season line of 7-14-21 +18 through 34 games. Heading into 2010-11, the fifth-rounder had career totals of 10-13-23 -12 in 103 OHL games.
The CHL's #2 ranked Majors, who suffered just their fifth regulation loss on Thursday before Saturday's winning effort, return home Sunday to play their third game in four days against skilled Saginaw. Meanwhile Mississauga coach Dave Cameron and leading scorer Casey Czikas will be in Buffalo with Sabres prospects Zack Kassian and Marcus Foligno as Team Canada battles Switzerland in a World Junior Championship elimination game.
For more on the likable Sutch, check out his blog at The Hockey News here.
Elsewhere, Steven Shipley did not point as Niagara won in overtime over Peterborough, 4-3. Shipley got on the game sheet when he was whistled for a boarding minor early in the second period. Matt Puempel ('11) had a goal and an assist for the Petes.
In the WHL, Matt MacKenzie picked up an assist in Calgary's 3-2 win over Medicine Hat. The Hitmen (12-24-2) will next take on Regina (12-20-5) in a Sunday match-up of league cellar dwellers.
Corey Fienhage skated even as Kamloops edged Seattle, 3-2. The 6'4 blueliner continues to log big minutes for the Blazers (18-19-1-1) despite the entire leadership core being stripped of their letters earlier in the season.
At the Shillelagh Tournament in Chicago, Justin Jokinen (-1) registered a shot on goal as Minnesota State upset #12 Notre Dame, 4-3. The 6'3 junior, who currently leads the Mavs with six goals, hasn't scored in his last six games after earlier enduring an eight-game drought in October-November. The Mavericks (7-8-4) move on to the face Brown in Sunday's championship.
At the Catamount Cup, Drew MacKenzie finished -1 as Vermont dropped a 3-1 decision to Ohio State. Amherst, NY native Shane Sims (NYI) had a pair of assists for the Buckeyes. The host Catamounts (2-10-4) will close the weekend with a game against Harvard on Sunday.
Mark Adams did not factor as Providence lost a 3-1 exhibition at New Brunswick. The Friars will close the Pete Kelly Challenge Cup series with the CIS Varsity Reds on Sunday before resuming their Hockey East schedule at Boston College next Friday.
In USHL action, Christian Isackson finished -2 as Sioux Falls was nipped by Fargo, 5-2. The playmaking Gopher commit has gone eight games without registering a point for the struggling Herd, losers of four straight. Rookie slumps are expected coming out of high school, and the patch Isackson has hit is particularly why Jr. A seasoning is always a good decision for those choosing the NCAA path.
