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Bulls Defeat Wolves 9-2 to Extend Win Streak
 Matt Beleskey scored three times and added an assist in the Belleville Bulls 9-2 victory over the Sudbury Wolves Friday night in Sudbury.
The Belleville Bulls scored early and often, as they ran their season long win streak to seven games with a 9-2 victory over the Sudbury Wolves Friday night in Sudbury. The Bulls jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first period en route to their second victory in as many games against the Wolves this season. Stephen Johnston and Matthew Tipoff each scored their first career OHL goals in the win for Belleville.
Johnston got the Bulls off to a terrific start just three minutes into the opening period when he intercepted a pass from Wolves goaltender Andrew Loverock and slid the puck into the empty net for his first OHL goal. The Bulls quickly increased their lead to 2-0 nine minutes into the first period when Matt Beleskey beat a Wolves defenceman wide before firing a perfect cross-ice ice pass for Jan Mursak to fire past Loverock. Tipoff also assisted on Mursak’s ninth goal of the season. Beleskey put the Bulls ahead 3-0 on the power play with eight minutes remaining in the first period when he slid a rebound past Loverock after the Wolves goaltender had stopped Chris Mifflen on the original shot. Mursak also assisted on Beleskey’s 25th goal of the season. Belleville’s defence was strong during the opening frame and goaltender Parker VanBuskirk was solid when called upon, as the Bulls led 3-0 after one period of play. Shots on goal in the first period were 12-6 Belleville.
It was Sudbury who got off to a fast start to begin the second period, as they were able to cut into the Bulls lead just four minutes into the middle frame when Matt Dias’ shot hit the stick of a Belleville defender and deflected over the glove of VanBuskirk. The Bulls restored their three goal advantage nine minutes into the second period when Tipoff broke in on an add man rush and fired a hard shot just inside the goalpost for his first career OHL goal. Andrew Self picked up the lone assist on the goal. Eric Tangradi increased the Bulls lead to 5-1 just over two minutes later on the power play when he took a great breakaway pass and beat Loverock with a pretty deke. Marc Cantin and Bryan Cameron assisted on Tangradi’s 20th goal of the season. Following the goal, Loverock was replaced in the Sudbury net by Alain Valiquette. The goaltending switch did not work, as the Bulls increased their lead to 6-1 just under two minutes later when Beleskey deflected a Shawn Lalonde pass past Valiquette for his second goal of the game. Mursak also assisted on Beleskey’s 26th goal of the season. Cantin then rounded out the scoring in the middle frame when his shot from the high slot hit a Wolves stick and deflected past Valiquette. Mifflen earned his second assist of the game on Cantin’s second goal of the season. Shots on goal in the second period were 18-9 in favour of the Bulls.
Beleskey completed his hat-trick three minutes into the third period when took a perfect pass from Mursak and fired the puck past an out of position Valiquette for his 27th goal of the season. It was Beleskey’s third hat-trick in just over a month, as he matches his career high for goals in a single season. The Bulls then ran into penalty trouble, taking three penalties in quick succession which resulted in two different two man advantages for Sudbury. Belleville’s penalty killing and goaltending was strong to keep the Wolves off the scoreboard while the Bulls added a goal of their own while shorthanded. Cameron made it 9-1 with eight minutes to go in the game when he broke in on an odd man rush and wired a bullet shot, top corner past Valiquette for his 25th goal of the season. The Wolves rounded out the scoring with just under three minutes remaining when Dean Howard won a face-off right to John Kurtz in the slot. Kurtz quickly fired a high, hard shot past VanBuskirk for the Wolves second goal of the game. Shots on goal in the third period were 11-8 Belleville and overall favoured the Bulls 41-23.
VanBuskirk was solid in goal for Belleville, stopping 21 shots to earn his seventh victory of the season. Loverock and Valiquette made 14 and 18 saves respectively in the loss for Sudbury. The Bulls finished the game two for four on the power play while Sudbury scored once in seven attempts with the man advantage. Belleville also added a shorthanded goal for the second consecutive game. The three stars of the game were Beleskey, Mursak, and Cantin. With the win, the Bulls improve their record to 27-9-3-2 while the Wolves drop to 10-29-1-2 with the loss. The Bulls will now return home to wrap up their busy weekend Saturday night when they will play host to the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors. Game time on Saturday is 7:15pm at the Yardmen Arena and tickets are available at the Bulls Box Office. Fans attending Saturday’s game will want to arrive early, as pre-game ceremonies begin at 7:05pm.
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