Menace Analyst – Mikayla Guarasci
Milton Menace Preview: Menace vs. Leamington Flyers, Governors’ Showcase– September 26, 2023
The Milton Menace are ready to hit the ice on Tuesday for their first game of the OJHL’s 2023 Governors’ Showcase. The game will be a rematch between them and their most recent opponent, the Leamington Flyers.
The Governors’ Showcase is set to be played at the LECOM Harborcenter in downtown Buffalo, NY. The venue is the practice facility of the Buffalo Sabres, and the event attracts scouts from various levels of hockey as all of the OJHL teams are playing under one roof.
The Menace’s last game was Friday’s battle against the Flyers, which ended in a 4-4 tie. The back-and-forth game went to a second overtime but still couldn’t find a winner. Aidan Puley, Owen Kindree, Tristan Tremble, and Justin O’Donnell scored for the Menace, while Glen Crandall stopped 32 of 36 shots. The Menace have not lost since their season opener on September 8.
While playing in a new environment, such as the showcase, it will be important for the Menace to get off to a quick start. A strong start is especially key in Tuesday’s game after getting down early on Friday against this Flyers team. Leamington forward Kyle Kussmann scored on the power play just over two minutes in, causing the Menace to play catch up. Once the Menace took the lead in the second period, they held it until the game’s final three minutes. The Flyers were able to score the equalizer, forcing overtime. If Milton wants to secure the win on Tuesday, it will be vital to protect any leads so they can leave Buffalo with as many points as possible.
The game and the rest of the showcase will be available to stream on FloHockey. Puck drop comes from Buffalo at 2:30 p.m. Keep an eye on the Menace’s social media for game updates.
