Holy Mole-y!

Photo courtesy of Paul Wright

It was a historic night at J.L. Grightmire Arena on Friday as the Dundas Real McCoys hosted the Wentworth Gryphins. The McCoys picked up a crucial shootout victory with Brad Bonello scoring three times and netting the shootout winner. However, the spotlight belonged squarely to goaltender Mike Mole, who became the first netminder in Allan Cup Hockey League history to play over 10,000 minutes.

Mole hit the milestone at the 15-minute mark of the second period in his 172nd career game. He leads the ACHL in games played by a goaltender, minutes, wins, and saves.

Dundas opened the scoring on goals from Holden Doggett and Bonello, but the Gryphins answered twice to even the score in the first period. Bonello restored the McCoys' lead late in the opening frame, sending his squad to the first intermission up 3-2.

Mackenzie Wood gave Dundas a two-goal cushion again, scoring just 52 seconds into the middle stanza. However, Wentworth stormed back and tied the game once more with a pair of goals.

The contest remained knotted at four until Justin DaSilva scored at 15:31 of the second to give the home side the lead once again. Wood's 20th of the year put Dundas up 6-4, but the Gryphins clawed one back with under two minutes left in the frame.

In the third, Bonello completed his hat trick when he converted a penalty shot at 7:13 after being hauled down on a breakaway. But like the rest of the night, Wentworth found a way to tie the game and force overtime.

With no goal in the extra frame, the teams headed to a shootout where Bonello scored the only goal to give the McCoys the victory.

Mole stopped 35 shots in the win and all three attempts he faced in the shootout.

Dundas now holds a one-point lead over the Cambridge Hornets for third place in the standings as they look to clinch one of the final two playoff spots with three games remaining.

The McCoys' next game will be a huge one as they travel to Cambridge to face the Hornets on Family Day Monday at 6:30 p.m.