The 2017 Clash of the Titans featured 14 of the top teams in North America competing for a $14,000 cash prize pool. This year's final four team features three familiar faces in Midnight Express, Pittsburgh Gods & the Niagara Rebels, and also included newcomers to the tournament the Bauer Saints.
The round robin saw the two home town teams Niagara Rebels & Niagara War Pigs finish the round robin as the only two teams to go 3-0-0. The other two teams earning a bye to the quarterfinals included the Bauer Saints & Midnight Express. On the other end of the spectrum, the Toronto Rage failed to qualify going 0-3. The team to join them on the outs, turned out to be the reigning Ontario Tier 1 Champions Toronto Orangemen, who failed to qualify after finishing the round robin in a complete tie with the Savage Punishers. In a first for the Clash tournament, every tiebreak was dead even between the two teams, and instead of letting the flip of a coin determine who advanced, a 5 man shootout saw Darryl Wilkes of the Punishers score to advance the Punishers into the elimination rounds.
Saturday night's elimination games saw the Richmond Hill Falcons, Pittsburgh Gods, North York Hitmen & Barrie Flyers advance with wins over the Savages Punishers (6-3), Buffalo Fusion (4-0), Ottawa Godfathers (3-2 in shootout) and Vaughan Redwings 5-0 respectfully.
In the quarterfinal matchups, three of the four top seeds advanced with the Niagara Rebels defeating the North York Hitmen 4-0, the Bauer Saints topped the Barrie Flyers 2-0 and the Midnight Express bettered the Richmond Hill Falcons 4-1. In the lone upset, the Pittsburgh Gods defeated the Niagara War Pigs 2-0.
In the semifinals, the Pittsburgh Gods continued their dominant run, after a wakeup call first game of the tournament that saw them lose 6-1 to the Niagara Rebels. They managed to hold the tournament's highest scoring team, the Bauer Saints to only one goal, while burying four on route to a 4-1 victory. In the other semi-final, two familiar foes of the tournament went head to head. The Niagara Rebels were unable to take advantage of eight powerplays including two separate five-on-threes, and as a result fell to the eventual champions, the Midnight Express. In the Championship game, the Midnight Express jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead after the Pittsburgh Gods goaltender appeared to suffer and battle a leg injury. The Gods made it a 2-1 game before Midnight quickly answered back, on their way to their second consecutive Clash of the Titans title.
MIDNIGHT EXPRESS - 2017 CLASH OF THE TITANS CHAMPIONS
Tournament All - Star Teams
1ST TEAM ALL STARS
Forward - Kevin Kuzmarski, Niagara Rebels - 5 Goals, 6 Assists.
Forward - Aaron Haine, Pittsburgh Gods - 5 Goals, 5 Assists.
Forward - Korey Wilson, Bauer Saints - 1 Goal, 8 Assists.
Defensemen - Bobby Housser, Midnight Express - 3 Goals, 6 Assists.
Defensemen - Evan Huckalo, Niagara Rebels - 3 Goals, 2 Assists
Goalie-Dave DiGironimo, Midnight Express-5-0, 2.00 GAA, .902 Sv%
2ND TEAM ALL STARS
Forward - JK Gill, Midnight Express - 4 Goals, 4 Assists
Forward - Adam Bevilaqua, Midnight Express - 4 Goals, 3 Assists
Forward - Alberto Cucchiara, Rich. Hill Falcons - 3 Goals, 3 Assists.
Defensemen - Matt Tremblett, Midnight Express - 2 Goals, 3 Assists.
Defensemen - Roy Duttine, Pittsburgh Gods - 2 Assists
Goalie - John Rethage, Pittsburgh Gods - 5-2, 2.14 GAA, .893 Sv%
For a complete listing of the schedule, round robin standing, players statistics, & goalie statistics, visit the tournament home page.
CLASH OF THE TITANS TEAM CAREER WINNINGS
1. MIDNIGHT EXPRESS, $23,400 - 2017 & 2016 Champions, 2015 & 2014 Finalists, 2013 Semifinalists.
2. NIAGARA REBELS, $18,600 - 2015 & 2013 Champions, 2017, 2016, & 2014 Semifinalists.
3. PITTSBURGH GODS, $12,600 - 2014 Champions, 2017 Finalists, 2016 Semifinalists.
4. TORONTO ORANGEMEN, $2,800 - 2016 Finalists.
5. BUFFALO FUSION, $2,000 - 2013 Finalists.
6. BAUER SAINTS, $1,400 - 2017 Semifinalists.
6. NORTH YORK HITMEN, $1,400 - 2015 Semifinalists.
6. NIAGARA MONARCHS, $1,400 - 2015 Semifinalists.
6. NIAGARA WAR PIGS, $1,400 - 2014 Semifinalists.
10. BARRIE FLYERS, $1,000 - 2013 Semifinalists.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
CHAMPIONS
MIDNIGHT EXPRESS
MIDNIGHT EXPRESS
NIAGARA REBELS
PITTSBURGH GODS
NIAGARA REBELS
FINALISTS
PITTSBURGH GODS
TORONTO ORANGEMEN
MIDNIGHT EXPRESS
MIDNIGHT EXPRESS
BUFFALO FUSION
SEMIFINALISTS
BAUER SAINTS, NIAGARA REBELS
NIAGARA REBELS, PITTSBURGH GODS
NIAGARA MONARCHS, NORTH YORK HITMEN
NIAGARA REBELS, NIAGARA WAR PIGS
BARRIE FLYERS, MIDNIGHT EXPRESS
Thanks to all teams who participated in this year's event. We look forward to hosting you all again at our events in 2018/