Bonello Sparks McCoys Win

Photo courtesy of Paul Wright

The Dundas Real McCoys played their first game of 2026 on Friday night, hosting their crosstown rivals in the Stoney Creek Tigers. In their only other meeting of the season, which took place in Stoney Creek, the McCoys took the loss. However, this time on home ice, the McCoys were able to score up a victory in a shootout with the help of Brad Bonello.

Bonello had been on tour with the Shoresy gang playing against NHL alumni. His return to the Dundas lineup was felt immediately as he scored the game’s opening goal 1:40 into the game. Unfortunately, Stoney Creek scored three times in the first period and took a 3-1 lead to the dressing room.

Special teams clicked in this game for the McCoys. The first came in the second period when Holden Doggett notched his fourth goal of the season, this one coming while shorthanded, pulling the home side within a goal. Bonello would then even the game in the third with a power play marker at 7:12, sending it to overtime.

With no goals scored in the overtime period, the teams headed to the league’s first shoot out since February 2020. The Tigers would score on one of their three opportunities in the shootout with Bonello and Sheeran scoring for Dundas to take the win.

In the win, Mackenzie Wood had a pair of assists, moving him into second place in league scoring with 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists).

Mike Mole picked up the victory in the cage, stopping 25 of 28 shots he faced. The win is his fourth of the season, tying him for second with Joe Murdaca of the Wentworth Gryphins.

With the victory, Dundas solidified their hold on third place in the ACHL with a 6-6-0-0 record, five points ahead of the St. Catharines Saints. Next up for the hometown Real McCoys is a date with the Gryphins at the J.L. Grightmire Arena on Friday January 16^th. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30pm.