THE HOCKEY GROUP CLIENTS BILCKE AND DIODATI FIGHT FOR PLAYOFF LIVES

The fight to stay alive!

As the OHL playoffs fast approach two clients of The Hockey Group continue to stay alive in the playoff race.

Bilcke and the Windsor Spitfires sit in 8th spot of the Western Conference with 60 points in 63 games played just 2 points ahead of the Soo Greyhounds. Diodati and the St.Mikes Majors find themselves in the same 8th place spot with 63 points staying 4 points ahead of the Peterborough Petes after 62 games played.

Both rookies continue to increase their OHL experience after the trade deadline in January, as they have seen an increase in playing time as well bumps and bruises.

Bilcke and Diodati squared off earlier in the season with a home and home series against one another. Each team took the home win in the series with Windsor winning 5-3 at home and St.Mikes winning 3-1 at home.

Pictured above (The Hockey Group client Ty Bilcke of the Windsor Spitfires lines up The Hockey Group Client Eric Diodati of the St.Mikes Majors for a hit.)

THE HOCKEY GROUP CLIENT MURRAY TURNS AWAY 41, BEES SHUTOUT LAREDO

LAREDO, Texas- John Murray and the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (25-26-7) recorded their second shutout in their last three games holding off the Laredo Bucks (23-31-2) by a 4-0 score. Murray made 41 saves in net for the Bees.

The first period would pass with neither team finding the scoreboard but the Bees would lose their leading scoring for the remainder of the game at the 17:53 mark as Dan Gendur was issued a five-minute major and game misconduct for elbowing.

In the second period the Bees would take the lead with a shorthanded tally at 1:17 of the period. Zac Pearson and Reid Edmondson came in on a two-on-one, Pearson took the puck to the outside then fed it across the top of the crease where Edmondson touched it to the back of the net.

Minutes later Brady Leavold gave the Bees a two-goal advantage after deking Laredo goalie Torrie Jung and feeding the puck five-hole. Jason Dixon earned the assist.

John Murray made 29 saves on 29 shots through the first 40 minutes of the game.

The Bees added an additional pair of goals in the third from Jason Dixon and Kirill Startsev but the story continued to be John Murray who made 12 more saves on his way to the shutout.

The Hockey Group Client Andrew Courtney sets Missouri Mavericks “Rookie Scoring Record”

INDEPENDENCE, Missouri – Andrew Courtney set the Missouri Mavericks rookie record for goals in a season with his 20^th goal of the season Saturday night at Independence Events Center in the Mavs 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Wichita Thunder. David Simoes added another goal for the Mavericks, but Wichita goaltender Adam Russo stopped 35 of 37 shots by Missouri.

Wichita opened up the scoring six minutes into regulation on a power play goal from Matt Summers. The Mavericks responded two and a half minutes later, as the league’s third best power play again yielded results when Andrew Courtney buried a wrist shot from the slot. The goal was Courtney’s 20th of the season, breaking Nick Sirota’s record for goals by a Maverick rookie, set back in 2009-10. Wichita regained the lead with three minutes left in the first period on an even strength goal from Matt Robinson. Missouri outshot Wichita 10-7 in the period.

The second period went without incident except for a fight between Brad Good and Dustin Donaghy. Both were assessed five-minute fighting majors as a result. The Mavericks outshot the Thunder 14-9 in the middle frame.

Wichita took a 3-1 lead with seven minutes to go in regulation on Robinson’s second goal of the game. The Mavericks drew close on a goal from David Simoes. Kris Hogg and Patrick Schafer assisted on the goal. Simoes tally would be the Mavericks last goal of the evening. Wichita goaltender Adam Russo finished the evening stopping 35 of 37 shots by the Mavericks, wrapping up the 3-2 victory for the Thunder.