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Venuto Scores Three To Help Mississauga Tackle Oakville

The Oakville Blades and Mississauga Chargers returned to Sixteen Mile Sports Complex for the fourth meeting of the season between the two clubs. It wasn't just any ordinary game. Oakville was hosting their annual Pink In The Rink game, attracting a big crowd to raise money for breast cancer. The game didn't go like the team had hoped, as a four goal lead in the first was all it took for the Chargers to take down the Blades for the third time this season, snagging the 7-2 final victory.

It didn't take the Mississauga Chargers long before they managed to take the 1-0 lead. Jackson Howe, known more for his fists than his scoring ability, took a great shot off the body of Mark Manolescu, who let out a rebound straight to Austin Galli. Galli slipped the puck in. The Chargers were able to double it up shortly, when star forward Vince Figliomeni received a pass from the side of the net and made no mistake in getting one past Manolescu for a 2-0 lead only ten minutes in.

Just two minutes later, Lucas Venuto got easily one of the nicest goals you'll ever see at the junior hockey level, flicking the puck up in the air before batting it over the sprawling Oakville goaltender for the 3-0 lead. The Blades would take a time out following the highlight real marker as the team needed something to help spark just a bit of momentum. It would work in the short term, as Oakville did manage to narrow the puck possession time during the next five minutes; however, Austin Washkurak was proving to be tough to beat once again in the Mississauga net.

The Chargers were able to get another one past Manolescu before the end of the period as Venuto got his second of the period, when he picked the pick up right in front of the crease before sending it into a seemingly open net.

It only took a minute, but Mississauga was able to extend their lead to 5-0 quickly in the second. Zack Lansfield, who already had three points in his previous two games, got one past Manolescu after the newly acquired goaltender was left all alone. The Blades were able to finally get on the board seven minutes into the contest when Kamil Tkaczuk danced around the Chargers' netminder and put it home to make it 5-1.

The rest of the period would feature close back and forth action as Oakville attempted to find a way back on to the score sheet. After two periods of action, the shots were a close 25-24. It just wasn't close enough on the score sheet as the Chargers left for the change room with a four goal lead.

The third didn't get much better for the Blades. Just a minute and a half into the frame, Trevor Warnaar's wrist shot clipped the glove of Manolescu and trickled in to restore the five goal Mississauga lead. Ross Sloan would give the Oakville fans something to cheer for before the halfway mark of the third, firing a five-hole goal past Washkurak to make it 6-2 with twelve minutes remaining. Venuto would get his third goal of the game with less then five minutes to go when he took a nifty pass in front from Warnaar before putting one past Manolescu, who was left all alone by his defence. That's all the Chargers needed on Friday, as their performance in the first period assured the 7-2 victory by the time the final buzzer sounded.



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