by Dan Carle
Dundas, Ontario – “We tried to sit back and protect the lead. We’ve done it before.
“It’s a bad thing to do.”
Mike Ruberto and the Stoney Creek Tigers are pressing forth victorious at the Allan Cup moments after thinking that might not be possible.
The Tigers had 53-minutes of a painful but satisfying re-introduction into the pride and pace of the Canadian Senior men’s championship when the ceiling began looking like a cellar.
The Innisfail Eagles from Alberta made it a game in the tournament opener for both teams with three goals in just over five minutes of the third to make it 5-4.
Turns out that was the final, and the Robertson Cup champions play on with a 41-year-old goaltender/owner and the Ruberto twins, exact matches and senior hockey stalwarts who accounted for two Stoney Creek goals and two assists in the pressure-relieving win.
“I don’t think we have ever won the first game in any of the tournaments,” said Mike Ruberto, soon to be 41 and in his 13th season of senior hockey, whose goal at 7:35 of the third was his second and the game winner – but it hurt.
“My father-in-law is already messaging me, saying the hot tub is ready if I need to come over.
“I am walking around my warehouse right now,” said the co-owner of My Custom Sports Chair along with twin Matt Ruberto, who both didn’t take the day off.
“And I am little sore.”
Tigers forward Josh Ranalli scored the Tigers second goal a minute into the second, but is likely sorest of all after suffering a broken collar bone.
“When we were up 5-1 we got a little too comfortable,” said Daniel Svedin, the Tigers goaltender and team co-owner, who finished with 30 saves for his first tournament opening win at the Canadian championship. “Innisfail took full advantage of us slacking a little bit.”
The Tigers move on to play the Southshore Breakers of Newfoundland Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) in the second of three round-robin games. Innisfail/Alberta played host Dundas Monday night.
Svedin, a father of three aged eight and under with a supervisory position in his career, is in for the long haul of a championship week culminating with the final at JL Grightmire Arena Saturday at 3:00 p.m.
“We would be lost without the Outlook calendar. We have all the events that are going on.
“Maybe I am just oblivious to how much stuff is actually going on,” said Svedin.
For Mike Ruberto, comfort is always a glance away.
“We have played together pretty much our whole lives. You wouldn’t be able to tell us apart.”
About Allan Cup Hockey (ACH) and the Allan Cup
Allan Cup Hockey (ACH), formerly Major League Hockey until 2011, is the top tier Canadian senior ice hockey league in the province of Ontario. Founded in 1990, as the Southwestern Senior “A” Hockey League, the ACH is a member of the Ontario Hockey Association and Hockey Canada. The ACH’s champion contends for the Allan Cup each year.
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the senior ice hockey champions of Canada. It was donated by Sir Montagu Allan of Ravenscrag, Montreal, and has been competed for since 1909. The current champions are the Dundas Real McCoys, who captured the 2023 Allan Cup in Dundas, Ontario.
More information about the Allan Cup Challenge
The 2024 Allan Cup Challenge goes from April 20-27 at the J.L. Grightmire Market Street Arena in Dundas, ON. For more information and to purchase tickets click here
