GMHL Game of the Week: December 15 to 21

Friday night in Sturgeon Falls delivered exactly what you expect from two North Division rivals fighting for position heading into the holiday break. In front of the home crowd at Sturgeon Falls Arena, the Ville-Marie Pirates edged the West Nipissing Lynx 2–1 in overtime, stealing two crucial points despite being heavily outshot. The matchup also kicked off a brief home-and-home to close out 2025, with the Lynx responding the following night in Ville-Marie with a 6–4 win. Both teams now head into the winter break having split the final two games of the calendar year.

 

West Nipissing controlled the early pace, using their speed and forecheck to tilt the ice. Their pressure paid off at 12:16, when Deanthony Bendall opened the scoring off feeds from Saveliy Kornev and Sergey Tishchenko, giving the Lynx a deserved 1–0 lead after 20 minutes. Ville-Marie survived the frame thanks largely to steady goaltending, despite being outshot 13–9.

 

 

The Pirates found their response early in the second. At 4:56, Jacob Robert finished a well-worked play from Nicolas Milhomme and Mathis Bernard to tie the game at 1–1. Special teams chances came and went for both sides, but neither club could break the deadlock, sending the game to the third period still knotted.

 

 

Defense and discipline took center stage. Penalties were exchanged, momentum swung back and forth, and West Nipissing continued to test Ville-Marie with sustained zone time. Still, no goals were scored, setting the stage for overtime after 60 hard-fought minutes.

 

 

With both teams trading chances in three-on-three play, Mathis Bernard ended it at 19:36, scoring unassisted to seal a 2–1 overtime victory for Ville-Marie and silence the Sturgeon Falls crowd.

 

 

This game was defined between the pipes. Benjamin Nadeau was outstanding for Ville-Marie, turning aside 41 of 42 shots for a .976 save percentage, earning First Star honours and backstopping the Pirates to the win. On the other end, Vladislav Morozyuk was nearly as sharp for the Lynx, stopping 30 of 32 shots (.938) and giving his team every chance to win in a tightly contested matchup.

 

 

Mathis Bernard (Ville-Marie): 1 goal, 1 assist — including the overtime winner — and the game’s most decisive offensive presence.

 

Jacob Robert (Ville-Marie): Scored the crucial tying goal in the second period.

 

Deanthony Bendall (West Nipissing): Opened the scoring and helped drive the Lynx attack early.

 

Benjamin Nadeau (Ville-Marie): A goaltending performance that ultimately made the difference.

 

 

The overtime win allowed Ville-Marie to grab valuable North Division points despite being outshot 42–32, while West Nipissing earned a consolation point at home. The following night’s 6–4 Lynx victory in Ville-Marie ensured the rivals split their final two games of 2025, keeping the standings tight as the break arrived.

 

 

Both teams now head into the winter break following their final games of the 2025 calendar year. The Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League resumes in early January, with West Nipissing and Ville-Marie set to re-enter the playoff race in a crowded North Division.

 

 

Bradford Rattlers – 46 pts

 

Wasaga – 44 pts

 

Tottenham – 36 pts

 

West Nipissing Lynx – 35 pts

 

Ville-Marie Pirates – 30 pts

 

Meaford – 12 pts

 

With the margins still slim, the second half of the season promises more meaningful matchups — and if this home-and-home series was any indication, these two clubs won’t be done with each other just yet.