Their Cup Runneth Over. The Alliston Hornets hoist the Clarence Schmalz Cup after winning their second title in three trips to the finals in the past three years tonight in Alliston. Maija Hoggett

Break home-game curse to take 4-3 win in game six – Alliston Herald May 07, 2010
 
The Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feelin’” and “We are the Champions” resonated through the New Tecumseth Recreation Complex tonight (Fri., May 7) as the Jr. C Alliston Hornets skated their way to the club’s second Clarence (Tubby) Schmalz Cup in the past three years.

The Hornets capped a strange series that saw neither team win a home game in the first five games of the best-of-seven contest by taking a tense 4-3 win off the Belle River Canadiens to earn the title, breaking the home-game curse that has plagued both teams, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

The capacity crowd went wild as the final seconds ticked away after Belle River battled back from a 4-1 deficit to make it 4-3 in the dying minutes of play.

Despite a five-on-four powerplay in the final two minutes, the Canadiens couldn’t capitalize on it to tie it up and the Hornets’ defence played like it had never played before in this series to take the win and the title, winning four games to Belle River’s two in the series.

The hero in this one for the Hornets was none other than Kyle McDowell with a three-point night for two goals and an assist in the 4-3 victory.

Alliston’s Randy Cox got the party started in the opening frame with a shorthanded goal off a pass from David Leblanc 13:45 into play.

Belle River took the wind out of the Hornets’ sails just 3:39 into the second by tying it up with a marker from Kevin Ringrose from Spencer Jean.

But the Hornets forged ahead with the taste of that silver cup in their mouths. McDowell scored from Jeff Henderson two minutes later to give the Alliston team the lead once again. Then big Pat McCarron picked up a pass from McDowell and made it 3-1 for the Hornets with just over five minutes left in the middle frame.

McDowell put his Alliston team out front 4-1 off assists from McCarron and Henderson with 3:28 left in the second and it looked as though it would be a lock for the Hornets at that point.

But the third frame belonged to Belle River as the Brown boys came to town, with Travis Brown scoring off Scott Chauvin just one minute in and Justin Brown picking up passes from Ryan Crevatin and Chauvin to move within one.

The door was wide open for the Canadiens with more than a minute left as Alliston’s Mike Campeau took a high stick penalty and chased it with a 10-minute abuse of officials misconduct.

But Belle River never really made a move to pull the netminder with a five on four already in play and the Hornets’ defence successfully staved them off for the cup win.

Alliston’s Rob Rankin was stellar tonight in net earning the win with some big saves.

More details and photos from the game and upcoming celebrations of the cup victory in this Tuesday’s edition of the Alliston Herald.