Caria records three points at OHL all-star game

Local product Matt Caria, of the Toronto St. Michael's Majors, scored once and set up two others to help pace the Eastern Conference to a 13-9 win over the Western Conference at the OHL All-Star Classic in Saginaw on Wednesday night.

Another local Zack Torquato of the Erie Otters and Soo Greyhounds defenseman Josh Godfrey were held off the scoresheet.

Next year's game will be held at the Steelback Centre.

The following is a news release from the Ontario Hockey League's Aaron Bell:

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Eastern Conference takes OHL All-Star Classic

Saginaw, MI – Hunter Tremblay admitted that it was worth the wait.

The fifth-year Barrie Colts forward made his first appearance in the OHL All-Star game on Wednesday and made it count. He scored three goals and added a pair of assists to pace the Eastern Conference All-Stars to a 13-9 win over the Western Conference All-Stars in front of 5,527 fans at the Dow Event Center.

“It took me five years to get here, but I finally made it,” said Tremblay, who won the Eastern Conference player of the game award. “I just wanted to have a good time and meet some of the boys. Things just ended up going my way tonight. I’m thankful for that.”

Colts’ captain Bryan Little lined up with Tremblay and chipped in with a goal and three assists while Stefan Legein of the Mississauga IceDogs added two goals and an assist.

Tyler Donati of the Belleville Bulls, Chris Stewart of the Kingston Frontenacs, Nick Foligno of the Sudbury Wolves, Matt Caria of the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors, Logan Couture and Jamie McGinn of the Ottawa 67’s and John Tavares of the Oshawa Generals also scored in the win. Michael Del Zotto and Brett MacLean from the Generals and Bobby Hughes of the Frontenacs each had two assists.

Sarnia Sting rookie Steven Stamkos was the Western Conference player of the game after scoring two goals and two assists.

“It was just an honour to play in this game,” said Stamkos, the first overall pick in the OHL Priority Selection last May. “I just wanted to have fun and it worked out.”

The London Knights duo of Sam Gagner (one goal, four assists) and Patrick Kane (two goals, two assists) combined for nine points in the loss. Daniel Ryder and James Neal of the Plymouth Whalers and Joshua Bailey of the Windsor Spitfires also scored for the West.

Kitchener Rangers’ goaltender John Murray allowed six goals on 22 shots while Thomas McCollum of the Guelph Storm gave up seven goals on 39 shots. Eastern Conference starter Andrew Perugini of the Barrie Colts allowed eight goals on 38 shots while Trevor Cann surrendered one goal on 10 shots before leaving the game with an apparent knee injury.

“They rushed him in for x-rays,” Williamson said. “It looks like it’s just a bad bruise.”

The teams combined for 10 goals in the first period and set an all-star record for combined goals. The previous record of 19 was set in Sarnia in 1999. They also set a record with 109 combined shots.

Next year’s game will be held at the new Steelback Centre in Sault Ste. Marie.

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GAME SUMMARY:

Eastern Conference All-Stars 13 at Western Conference All-Stars 9

Jan 31, 2007 - Dow Event Center

1st Period

Scoring - 1. East, C. Stewart (1) (T. Donati, B. Hughes) 3:39 2. East, S. Legein (1) (J. McGinn, L. Couture) 7:19 3. West, J. Bailey (1) (T. Lewis, S. Stamkos) 8:25 4. East, J. Tavares (1) (N. Foligno, B. MacLean) 11:10 5. West, P. Kane (1) (S. Gagner) 11:28 6. East, L. Couture (1) (M. Staal, S. Legein) 12:42 7. West, S. Stamkos (1) (J. Bailey, T. Lewis) 13:02 8. East, B. Little (1) (H. Tremblay, M. Caria) 14:11 9. East, T. Donati (1) (B. Hughes, M. Pelech) 17:15 10. West, S. Stamkos (2) (S. Gagner, S. Ward) 19:18

Penalties - No Penalties

2nd Period

Scoring - 11. West, S. Gagner (1) (R. Wilson, P. Kane) 3:01 12. East, N. Foligno (1) (B. MacLean, J. Tavares) 6:29 13. East, S. Legein (2) (M. Del Zotto) 7:26 14. West, P. Kane (2) (S. Gagner) 8:27 15. East, H. Tremblay (1) (B. Little, D. Joslin) 10:25 16. West, J. Neal (1) (P. Kane, S. Gagner) 14:37

Penalties - No Penalties

3rd Period

Scoring - 17. West, D. Ryder (1) (S. Downie, E. Brophey) 3:25 18. East, H. Tremblay (2) (M. Del Zotto, B. Little) 6:32 19. East, M. Caria (1) (H. Tremblay, B. Little) 6:58 20. West, J. Bailey (2) (S. Stamkos) 17:40 21. East, H. Tremblay (3) (M. Caria, M. Pelech) 17:53 22. East, J. McGinn (1) (L. Couture, J. de Gray) 19:47

Penalties - No Penalties

EAST Shots: 21 12 15 TOTAL: 48 WEST Shots: 20 19 22 TOTAL: 61

Goaltenders

Eastern Conference All-Stars Perugini 0-0-0-0 Start: 1st 10:25 Min: 29:35 SV: 43 GA: 7 Cann 0-0-0-0 Start: 2nd 10:25 Min: 9:35 SV: 9 GA: 1

Western Conference All-Stars Murray 0-0-0-0 Start: 1st 10:25 Min: 9:35 SV: 16 GA: 6 McCollum 0-0-0-0 Start: 2nd 10:25 Min: 29:35 SV: 19 GA: 5

Start : 7:21 PM End : 9:38 PM Attendance : 5527

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