A frustrating Friday night for the Trenton Golden Hawks finished in a narrow loss.
The St. Michael’s Buzzers handed the Hawks just their fourth regulation loss of the season in a 3-2 decision at the Duncan McDonald Community Gardens.
Jonathan Frattaroli was the big decider on the night making 45 saves to earn the victory.
The two-time reigning OJHL Player of the Month and a CJHL Three Star selection Taeo Artichuk cleaned up a rebound in front of the St. Mike’s net at 2:50 from Duncan Schneider and Jack Ziliotto
Outside of that goal, Frattaroli played outstanding with 19 saves on 20 shots in the first frame to keep his team close.
St. Mike’s weathered that Trenton storm and managed to even the score just shy of eight minutes into the second on a Julian Campoli powerplay marker.
The Buzzers got a big early goal on another man advantage courtesy of a Michael Modopoulos point shot and the visitors did an excellent job of warding off a dangerous Trenton attack.
Despite 16 shots, the Hawks couldn’t manage to score until after Julian Mandarino buried an empty-netter to increase the Buzzers lead.
Artichuk stuck in his 24th from Jamie Darlison and Ziliotto with 17 seconds left, but that was as close as Trenton would get.
Dylan Lee-Stack made his Trenton debut after being acquired from the OHL’s Peterborough Petes and made 34 saves.
Final shots favoured the Hawks 47-37, as the Hawks sit alone in second in the East Conference following their loss and the Stouffville Spirit’s win over Markham on Friday.
These two titans will clash in an epic showdown Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at Stouffville Arena.
