Following a devastating season-opener in which they lost both the game and their starting shortstop, the Blue Jays turned to a 23-year-old no. Logan Couture Jersey . 2 starter who had not started a major league game since early in the 2012 season. Despite the tough spot, Drew Hutchison proved he was more than up to the task, holding the Rays off the board over his 5 1/3 innings. He joined TSN 1050 on Wednesday to discuss his recovery from elbow surgery and dealing with the pressure of being counted on as a top-of-the-rotation starter. Hutchison on his road back, high expectations Dan Boyle . They did take one chance on a free agent-to-be however, and it didnt pay off. Rory Kohlert, selected by the Redblacks in the expansion draft from Winnipeg, has signed as a free agent with the Blue Bombers. Joe Thornton . A noon downpour turned the 2.25-mile, 13-turn circuit into a slippery strand of roadway, but Bourdais proved to be the best on rain tires. The French driver made it through the first two qualifying rounds and into the Fast Six.WINDSOR, Ont. -- The Windsor Spitfires were left with just one goaltender Tuesday after having their starter walk out on them midway through Game 3 of their Ontario Hockey League playoff matchup with the London Knights. Dalen Kuchmey pulled himself from Windsors net, went to the dressing room, changed and drove away from the arena after giving up eight goals on 26 shots, leaving the Spitfires trailing 8-1 with 5:34 remaining in the second period. London went on to win the game 10-2. "Youre going to have to ask him," Spitfires head coach Bob Boughner said when asked about Kuchmeys whereabouts during the third period. "He left the ice and the rink before the (second) period was over. He quit on our team and he quit on his teammates." Kuchmey was making his first start of the series, filling in for regular starter Alex Fotinos who came down sick after starting Game 1 and 2. London jumped out to a 4-0 lead after 20 minutes of play and Boughner spoke to Fotinos about replacing Kuchmey to start the second, but decided to stick with the healthier 19-year-old despite the score. "I asked our backup goalie (Fotinos) who had been sick all day at the end of the first period if he could go in if we had to pull Kuch at some point," Boughner said. "He said, if you need me, great, but I dont feel good at all. Added Boughner: "Our backup was sick. It is what it is and I really dont have anything more to say as I havent talked to (Kuchmey). But once you quit on our team .... Id rather concentrate on the guys who want to be here." Ryan Rupert and Bo Horvat each had a goal and three assists for the Knights, who have a commanding 3-0 series lead. Zach Bell, Chandler Yakimowicz, Michael McCarron, Matt Rupert, Nikita Zadorov, Chris Tierney, Josh Anderson and Mitchell Marner added the others. Londons Anthony Stolarz made 24 saves for the win. Stolarz received a two-minute minor for high sticking at the 15:56 mark of the first period after hitting Josh Ho-Sang in the back of the head with his stick. Ho-Sang and Ben Johnson scored for the Spitfires as Fotinos wound up stopping 11-of-13 shots in 25 minutes of relief. Boughner added that goaltender Brenddan Johnston could be called up from Chatham Jr. Sharks Jersey. B in time for Game 4 on Thursday. --- ICEDOGS 2 BATTALION 0 ST. CATHARINES, Ont. -- Brent Moran made 42 saves as the IceDogs shut out North Bay to take a 2-1 lead in their series. Billy Jenkins and Eric Ming supplied the offence for Niagara. Jake Smith made 24 saves for the Battalion. North Bays defence pairing of Dylan Blujus and Marcus McIvor were caught on the ice for both goals against. --- WHALERS 2 STORM 1 PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- Zach Lorentzs goal eight minutes into the third period stood as the winner as the Whalers downed Guelph to take Game 3. Victor Crus Rydberg also scored for Plymouth, while Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 52 shots. Ryan Horvat was the lone scorer for the Storm and Justin Nichols turned aside 25 shots. Guelph leads the series 2-1. --- COLTS 6 WOLVES 4 SUDBURY, Ont. -- Brendan Lemieux and Andrew Mangiapane had two goals each as Barrie skated past the Wolves to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. Jake Dotchin and Aaron Ekblad also scored for the Colts, while Mackenzie Blackwood made 32 saves for the win. Nicholas Baptiste led Sudbury with a goal and two assists. Radek Faksa, Connor Crisp and Brody Silk chipped in as well. Franky Palazzese stopped 27-of-32 shots for the Wolves. --- FRONTENACS 4 PETES 2 PETERBOROUGH, Ont. -- Samuel Schutt scored twice and Matt Mahalak made 43 saves as Kingston doubled up the Petes to go up 3-0 in its first-round matchup. Michael Moffat and Sam Bennett also scored for the Frontenacs. Steven Lorentz and Nick Ritchie scored for Peterbrough. Petes goaltender Andrew DAgostini stopped 44-of-47 shots in defeat. --- GENERALS 6 STEELHEADS 5 (2OT) MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Josh Sterk scored 11:28 into the second overtime to lift Oshawa to a 3-0 series lead over the Steelheads. Michael Dal Colle scored twice for the Generals. Cole Cassels had a goal and two assists, while Scott Laughton and Dylan Smoskowitz each added a goal and an assist. Sam Babintsev led Mississauga with three goals while Austin Gerhart and Lucas Venuto added the others. Oshawas Daniel Altshuller made 28 saves for the win as Spencer Martin stopped 58 shots for the Steelheads. ' ' ' |