Toronto FCs Doneil Henry played at right-back

[ldh2013]

LONDON, Ont. . -- Matt Rupert had two goals and an assist and brother Ryan Rupert scored once and set up two more as the London Knights doubled up the Ottawa 67s 6-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Gemel Smith, Max Domi and Brett Welychka also scored for the Knights (41-12-5), who extended their win streak to six games, while Josh Anderson tacked on three assists. Tyler Hill, Travis Konecny and Erik Bradford replied for the 67s (20-33-4). Jake Patterson made 23 saves for London as Ottawas Liam Herbst turned aside 57-of-62 shots in a losing cause. --- GENERALS 3 FRONTENACS 2 KINGSTON, Ont. -- Joe Manchurek broke a 2-2 deadlock at 6:59 of the third period as Oshawa edged the Frontenacs. Scott Laughton and Cole Cassels also scored for the Generals (37-16-5). Darcy Greenaway and Conor McGlynn scored for Kingston (32-21-4), which lost for the first time in three outings. Daniel Altshuler made 33 saves for Oshawa while Matt Mahalak stopped 22 shots for the Frontenacs. --- WHALERS 3 STING 2 SARNIA, Ont. -- Alex Nedeljkovic made 31 saves as the Whalers handed Sarnia its 11th loss in a row. Connor Chatham had a goal and an assist for Plymouth (23-29-6) while Yannick Rathgeb and Danny Vanderwiel scored the others. Davis Brown and Connor Schlichting supplied the scoring for the Sting (15-37-6). Sarnias Taylor Dupuis stopped 28-of-31 shots in a losing cause. --- STORM 6 SPITFIRES 4 GUELPH, Ont. -- Robby Fabbri and Kerby Rychel each had a goal and three assists as the Storm earned their seventh win in a row by downing Windsor. Zack Mitchell scored once and set up two more for Guelph (45-9-3) and Stephen Pierog, Ryan Horvat and Nick Ebert each scored once. Brody Milne, Slater Koekkoek, Christiano DiGiacinto and Brady Vail scored for the Spitfires (34-22-3), who lost their fourth in a row. Justin Nichols made 21 saves for the Storm as Windsors Alex Fotinos stopped 30-of-36 shots in defeat. --- ATTACK 3 RANGERS 1 KITCHENER, Ont. -- Brandon Hope made 47 saves, including 21 in the third period, as Owen Sound defeated the Rangers. Holden Cook, Kyle Platzer and Brayden Rose scored for Owen Sound (26-24-7). Nick Maygar recorded Kitcheners (22-33-3) only goal while Matthew Greenfield stopped 19 shots in defeat. The Attack went 1 for 2 on the power play as the Rangers failed to score on either of their chances with the man advantage. --- PETES 4 STEELHEADS 0 MISSISSAUGA, Ont.-- Anthony Stefano had two goals and an assist as Peterborough blanked the Steelheads. Stephen Nosad had a goal and an assist for the Petes (26-27-5) while Nick Ritchie scored once. Peterboroughs Andrew DAgostini only had to make 15 saves for his fifth-career shutout. Spencer Martin stopped 36-of-40 shots for Mississauga (21-33-4), which dropped its fourth game in a row. --- The Ontario Hockey League announced that Fridays game between the Erie Otters and Sudbury Wolves was postponed due to unsafe ice conditions. The game has been rescheduled for Feb. 24 in Sudbury. . The former Detroit Red Wings captain was named to the Order of Hockey in Canada on Wednesday along with former womens national team captain France St-Louis and legendary university coach Clare Drake. . A quick first step to get to the hoop for a layup. A rousing dunk on the break off a high outlet pass saved by teammate Ramon Sessions. . Ko, ranked No. 4 in the world, chose not to hold a formal news conference but released a short, scripted video in which she debates the merits of turning profession with the All Blacks rugby player Israel Dagg.These have been trying times for Canadian Mens soccer. A struggling national team, and likewise Canadian Major League Soccer franchises have tested the patience of the most ardent support of the game in this country. Tuesday night at our National Soccer Stadium in Toronto told a different story: attractive play, highlight reel goals and a winning experience. The Canadian men gave head coach Benito Floro a winning home debut in a 3-1 victory over CONCACAF rival Jamaica. It was all-around a fun night for the Canadian faithful. Baby steps and hints of progress. To say its been a rough two years for the Canadian Mens National Soccer team would be an understatement. The players, program and supporters all deserved a night as such. A 16-match winless streak dating back to the 8-1 World Cup qualifying humiliation to Honduras in San Pedro Sula in October 2012 has cast a cloud of negativity over our Mens Soccer program. A seemingly never-ending goalless streak, soul searching and an absolute loss in confidence in the players and leadership has made for an all-time difficult time for the program. A losing mentality can be contagious. But that negative demeanour was nowhere to be found at Canadian camp over the last week heading into Tuesdays win. There was passion, energy and excitement around the team getting back at it for a long-anticipated home date. It was the mens first home date in 2014, and just the third match on home soil in the last two years. The players are well aware of all the negative talk about the team, individually and as collective. They felt they had something to prove. The win wont take away the sting of 8-1 but sets the tone of where this group plans to go. Its time to move forward. The players can now do so with confidence and reasoned belief in their new manager. The move by the CSA to bring in Floro was a calculated one; a man of vast experience looking for a new opportunity. How the marriage would work out was up for great debate. Much work was to be done, and many questioned whether Floro would be up for it. The initial returns are showing steps in the right direction. His players are speaking of tactics and compartmentalization in approach: something entirely different than recent years when survival and keeping heads above the water always seemed the goal. The new coach won over the crowd by bringing on Canadian and local soccer legend Dwayne De Rosario, as well as defender Karl Ouimette, who lost his sister to cancer earlier this month, for second half appearances – an appropriate touch and show of understanding by the manager. As for game-play, Floro has a clear vision how he wants his team to play. From attacking perspective, the initial returns speak to improvement. Its about making the most out of what he has. Canada will not win through individual ability: it must be a team approach, top-down. The intelligence and purpose of the Canadian attack against Jamaica was something unlike we have seen out of the Mens program for quite sometime. Canada may not be blessed with the natural goal-scorers of yester-year, but the team has pace. The ability to attack down the wings and move off the ball accordingly was refreshing. Tosaint Ricketts led the line well and looks a much more active player than in the past. His goal came off a mistake from goalkeeper Andre Blake, but the Canadiann striker put himself in position to finish. . It was a standout performance from the Israel-based player. Ricketts goal was the clincher after Canada scored three unanswered en route to victory. The other two goals were of the highest quality. Patrice Berniers corner finding David Edgar on the top of the 18, who volleyed home for a spectacular goal, rivaling Terry Dunfields wonder-strike against Ecuador in 2011. Marcel de Jong scored the other on a picture perfect free kick. Top goals, no matter what league or side youre watching worldwide. Atia Hutchinson remains the pulse of the team, outstanding again Tuesday night. The Besiktas player is a step above, and can be argued he could start for any CONCACAF nation. Hutchinson stands of evidence this country can still produce players of such high quality and deserves any and all the praise he gets. The team with speed around him takes advantage of his poise, composure and overall gifted ability to read the game. Hutchinson remains the centerpiece, and with Julian de Guzman, Patrice Bernier and the absent Will Johnson around him, make for a formidable middle of the park. Perhaps the most pleasant surprise was the play of goalkeeper Milan Borjan. Multiple top saves and intervention helped keep Canada in a position to win on home soil. His positioning was sound and shot-blocking ability was equal to the task. The defensive line was shaky in front of him and will need work growing as a unit. Toronto FCs Doneil Henry played at right-back and provided size and strength on the outside. Henry needs more polish at the position but was an interesting look for a player used to playing centre-half. Borjan is without a club at present time. He, along with de Guzman and Adam Straith need club teams as soon as possible. It need not matter the inexperience in the Jamaican team or the lack of preparation time for the visitors. Its the result that matters. Its time to turn the corner from the negative narrative to developing something positive. That only comes through results. Belief in Benito and better days ahead for the program is paramount looking ahead to the Gold Cup and World Cup qualifying in the not-so-distant future. Its important for the Mens program to gain prominence on the Canadian sports landscape. Canada has become a leader in the womens game in terms of development and fan support. The success of the womens game has been a boon for the Canadian Soccer Association. But the Mens program on a global scale will always be the primary, long-term moneymaker and the barometer by which a countrys soccer success will be judged. It was unfortunate young boys club teams didnt flock out Tuesday night as girls club teams do for the womens program. It all comes from perception. When the perception of the mens program turns to one of success, we can expect similar fandom to follow. So some headlines the night before tickets went on sale for the 2015 FIFA Womens World Cup is well-taken by the CSA and the Canadian soccer community. Its a big year for Canadian soccer and there is no reason the Mens team cant be part of the headlines. The goal is all programs finding on and off-field success. Progress should be embraced as it comes. Tuesday was just that. More baby steps. Gareth Wheeler can be reached at:@WheelerTSNgareth.wheeler@bellmedia.ca ' ' '