McCoys win Allan Cup opener

With strong goaltending and a solid penalty kill, the Dundas Real McCoys opened their quest for the Allan Cup national championship winning 3-1 over South East Prairie Thunder, in British Columbia Tuesday.

Dan Turple made 43 saves for Dundas, while the team held its opponent scoreless on eight powerplays.

The loss evened the Thunder’s record to one win and one loss, after their previous 4-2 win over Powell River Regals. Dundas was scheduled to face Powell River Wednesday afternoon.

After a scoreless opening period, NHL veteran Mike Kennedy gave Dundas a lead halfway through the second frame, assisted by Shawn Shewchuk on a powerplay.

Ryan Healy gave Dundas a 2-0 cushion about five minutes later, assisted by Ryan Kuwabura.

Healy came to the Real McCoys from former Ontario rival Brantford Blast when the team folded. He had a three year OHL career in Sault Ste. Marie and Oshawa.

The Thunder solved Turple eight minutes into the final period. But Dundas regained the two-goal lead when Rob DeCiantis, a veteran Real McCoy who starred with the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL during the mid-1990s, found the net less than two minutes after the Thunder’s only goal.

DeCiantis was assisted by Ryan Christie and Kuwabura.

The Thunder outshot Dundas 44 to 29, but the McCoys appeared to focus on defence and goaltending as general manager Don Robertson suggested before the team left town for Canada’s national amateur hockey championship.

Host Fort St. John was the only undefeated team after two days, winning their first two games 7-1 and 6-3.