The Titans Hockey Union 17U AAA squad seized control early and never looked back, defeating the Kootenay HA 5-2 in a game defined by special teams and a relentless first-period attack. The Titans struck first on the power play, with Shepard Lehto converting a setup from Grayson Closson and Declan Benson just seven minutes into the game. The momentum snowballed quickly; Liam Hunter doubled the lead five minutes later, assisted again by Closson, and before the first intermission, Grayson Gladue netted what would stand as the game-winner, with helpers from Hunter and Kiran George, to make it 3-0. Kootenay was left reeling, having taken three minor penalties in the opening frame that the opportunistic Titans exploited.
Kootenay showed signs of life in the second period, outshooting the Titans 15-4. Liam Roberts got the home team on the board just 29 seconds into the period, finishing a play from Xavier Barrett to cut the deficit to 3-1. However, the Titans quickly snuffed out any comeback hopes. Kiran George restored the three-goal cushion midway through the period, and a power-play marker from Holden Nelson, assisted by Lane Johnson, pushed the lead to 5-1. The physicality ramped up in the third period, with a scrum leading to coincidental minors for Kootenay's Nixon McDonald and the Titans' Connor Ferguson. Kootenay's final push was too little, too late, and Liam Hunter sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final minute, completing a multi-point night for himself and playmaker Grayson Closson.
While Kootenay's Mateo Sinclair faced a barrage of 59 shots in a valiant losing effort, the story of the game was Titans netminder Felix Rossignol, who turned aside all 30 shots he faced to earn a shutout victory. The Titans' efficient offense, capitalizing on early chances and power plays, combined with Rossignol's perfect performance in net, proved an insurmountable combination for Kootenay on this night.
14U AAA - HC Edmonton
14U AAA - Surrey Eagles HA
15U AAA - Bow Valley HC
15U AAA - Langley HA
