Wilderness winless at Dudley Hewitt Cup

Jordan Reed’s third period power play goal stood up as the game-winner as the Huntsville Otters edged the Wisconsin Wilderness 4-3 Wednesday in day-two action at the Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canadian Jr. A Championship in Huntsville, Ont.

The Otters would grab the early lead with a man advantage marker courtesy of Tyler McKee who drove hard to the net and lifted the over top Wisconsin goaltender John McLean at 3:42.

Zach Blaisdell would pull the Wilderness level just over a minute later snapping a shot from the left circle past Huntsville netminder Thomas Shelley.

The SIJHL champions would grab their only lead of the night at 6:01 of the first as Bryce Anderson dashed down the right side and teed the puck up for Keith Tessin who one-timed a quick shot into the back of the net.

McGee would equalize before the opening frame was out as he roofed a shot tucking it under the cross bar after McLean had made two stops in quick succession.

Neither side would score in the middle stanza with the best opportunity going to Wisconsin who rang a shot off the cross bar in the late stages of a power play opportunity.

Dane Horvat would give Huntsville the lead for good 3:10 into the third period as a sprawled McLean watched a loose puck slide across the crease that resulted in a tap in for the Otters’ forward.

Reed would then notch the eventual winning tally at 7:36 as he drew the Wilderness goalkeeper off the post and slid the puck in short side.

Wisconsin would pull McLean in the late stages and were quickly rewarded as Tessin wired one from the high slot off the left post and in with 29.7 seconds remaining.

They would get no closer however as they fell to 0-2 at the event while Huntsville improved to 2-0.  

Shots on goal were 29-26 in favour of the Otters.

Wisconsin now faces a must-win game Thursday as they meet the also 0-2 Soo Eagles at 2 p.m. with the victor of that contest moving on to the semifinal Friday and the loser being eliminated.

With the triumph, Huntsville is guaranteed at least a semi-final berth.

They’ll wrap-up round-robin play Thursday vs. the Wellington Dukes at 7:30 p.m.

Whoever comes out on top in that match-up will advance straight to Saturday’s championship game while the loser meets the club that survives the Wilderness – Eagles game in Friday semi-final.