The St. Paul Jr. Canadiens put together one of their strongest, most disciplined games of the season Friday night, earning a 4–2 win over the Vermilion Tigers. From the opening faceoff, St. Paul looked sharper, cleaner, and more connected — something Head Coach Harvey Smyl said the group has been working toward.

“We were well-positioned and had more structure,” Smyl said after the game. “That’s important for us.”

Canadiens Strike Early

It took just 31 seconds for St. Paul to grab control.
Kayden Morrison (#22) jumped on a loose puck and buried his first of the season, finishing a play started by Quinn Szpak and Mahekun Laroche. The early goal wasn’t just a spark — it set the tone for a night where St. Paul dictated pace.

One thing that stood out immediately was the Canadiens’ puck management. Smyl noticed it too.

“The turnover ratio was a lot lower,” he said. “There are still turnovers, but much lower compared to what it has been.”

Miller Makes it 2–0

St. Paul kept pushing into the second period, and at 13:01, Kolby Miller (#29) snapped home his second of the year, again with Szpak involved. That made it 2–0, and reinforced St. Paul’s commitment to playing the right way.

But Vermilion didn’t disappear.
Cade Meiklejohn (#77) struck on the powerplay at 9:20, trimming the lead to 2–1. It would be the Tigers’ only man-advantage marker, finishing the night 1-for-6.

Even with the pressure building, St. Paul didn’t sag.

“We’re having a better team concept,” Smyl said. “It’s all six guys out there buying into the program. When you do that, you’re a lot harder to beat.”

Third Period Belongs to St. Paul

The Canadiens controlled much of the third period, limiting Vermilion to just four shots.

At 15:30, Conor Goofers (#15) restored the two-goal cushion off a setup from Liam Boyko and Gavyn Dion, giving St. Paul the breathing room they needed.

Vermilion answered back with a goal from Dannon Pavka (#93) at 11:54, but the Canadiens’ response was textbook. There was no panic — only pushback.

Just four minutes later, Tayton Flett (#24) buried the insurance marker at 5:02, finishing a pass from Jager Fontaine and locking down the 4–2 victory.

Key Performances

Smyl highlighted the elevated play of Quinn Szpak, who posted two assists but made just as big an impact without the puck.

“He’s tiny, but he’s got a lot of heart,” Smyl said.
“He’s elevated his whole game — the shot blocks, the compete level, the leadership. His whole involvement in the team has gone up.”

And between the pipes, Boston Carter delivered exactly what his team needed — calm, timely saves, and stability late in the game.

“Goaltending’s been a bit of a wave this year,” Smyl admitted, “but Boston Carter came in and played probably one of the best games he’s played this season.”

 

Final Score

St. Paul Canadiens 4 — Vermilion Tigers 2

St. Paul improves its two-way game significantly with this win, showing the kind of structure and effort Smyl has been pushing for. If this becomes the norm, the Canadiens will be a tough out for any team.