HOMETOWN BREAKDOWN: 10 IN A ROW FOR THE SURGING TIDE THAT IS THE KINGTON FRONTENACS

The Kingston Frontenacs are so hot right now -- 10 games in a row without a regulation-time loss. Neil Acharya, who was on hand to do radio colour commentary for Kingston radio for yesterday's 5-4 shootout win over the Toronto-St. Michaels Majors, looks at the team the authors of Out of Left Field have been just mild about since childhood.

The ancient St. Mike's College School Arena at the corner of Bathurst and St. Clair hasn't been friendly to the Fronts -- before yesterday, they'd won there only once in the past five years -- but they pulled out a win in what will likely be their final visit there.

Bobby Hughes, who also had the shootout winner Friday against Oshawa, ended the game by scoring on Kingston's third shot, after Cory Emmerton had scored with a forehand move and Aaron Rock had denied the first two St. Mike's shooters. It was a controversial winner, as Hughes' shot went right under the crossbar then ricocheted out off the post to the right of St. Mike's goalie Wayne Savage.

Majors coach Bud Stefanski may have thought the shot went crossbar, post and out as he chatted with the referees at length. It was counted, and the Fronts had now equalled the franchise's longest unbeaten streak, 10 games, set by the '85-86 Kingston Canadians back when myself and Neate were in grades 2 and 3, respectively (and before shootouts and regular-season overtime, too). It didn't come in the way the Fronts expected, as St. Mike's wiped out a 4-1 third-period lead, outshooting Kingston 19-15 in the third period and overtime, but it was huge nevertheless.

Even on the small St. Mike's ice surface, you can see the Fronts' speed and quick puck movement -- they go zero to 60 faster than almost anyone else in the league. That speed helped them get out to a 3-0 lead in a penalty-filled first period, with Hughes, Bobby Bolt and rookie Josh Brittain scoring, much to the delight of the diehards who had travelled up from Kingston on the fan bus the Fronts chartered. Justin Donati, whose twin brother Tyler plays for Belleville, got one back for St. Mike's before the period was out, then following a scoreless second, Peder Skinner got a power-play goal 35 seconds into the third to put Kingston up 4-1, banking the puck in off the right shin of Majors defenceman Darrell Simich. That only set the stage for the real fireworks.

St. Mike's, which has been on a bit of slide since feisty winger Jason Cassidy hurt his ankle last Sunday against London, will probably come away feeling like they showed some character by coming back from three goals down to salvage a point in the standings. After a goal in the first five minutes of the third, the Majors pulled within a goal when Matt McCready scored with 2:40 left. A minute later, Rock froze the puck and Stefanski had a chance to call a time out and draw up a play with about a minute and a half left and a faceoff in Kingston's zone.

What followed seemed to be a perfectly executed play as St. Mike's won the faceoff, won a battle in the corner to Rock's left and got the puck back to Rob Kwiet at the centre point. Kwiet let a shot go along the ice and through the pads of Rock, and it was tied 4-4 with 1:09 to play.

The Majors continued to take the play to the shaken Fronts in a bid for the game-winner. Defenceman Adam Nemeth had to block about four shots in those 69 seconds to help the Fronts get to overtime.

In overtime, Donati, whose twin has been a Fronts-killer for Belleville this year, had a great chance to end the game, but Rock made perhaps the best of his 41 saves on the afternoon to deny the St. Mike's overager. Rock made that save right in front of the contingent of Kingston fans, sending them into a frenzy. It goes without saying without that save right there, the Fronts were toast. Instead, they went on to win, and moved within three points of Belleville for first place in the OHL's East Division, and are in fifth place in the conference. They can finish off a great November if they can pull off a win over Ottawa -- whom they're just 1-2 against this year -- at home at the Mem Centre.

FRONTE-FACTS

-- St. Mike's Matt Caria faced Bobby Hughes yesterday afternoon, Caria replaced Hughes in the Canada-Russia challenge after he went down with injury.

-- Kingston's team bus was to drop off Hughes in Oshawa on the ride home so he could play in the Canada-Russia game tonight.

-- Aaron Rock has quick pads and played an excellent game. He needs to work on how casual he is when playing the puck with his stick.

-- How small is St. Mike's Arena? Kingston's alternate goalie, Jason Guy could not sit with the team, instead he had to stand in the tunnel cross-ice from the visitors bench.

-- Once Eugene Melnyk moves the Majors to the Hershey Centre, there once again will be no OHL hockey in the downtown Toronto area. It says here that there should be. It's accessible (St. Clair West Subway stop is right in front of the Arena), affordable and an overall good thing for the OHL. While the AHL Marlies are relatively affordable, accessibility is another thing as Ricoh Coliseum is way out on the CNE grounds.

As for those that think Missisauga or Brampton is no different from having a team in the city centre. Well, you just don’t know the GTA that well, while the support may be the same or better in those locations they still are at least a 15-20 minute car ride from downtown, and that’s with no traffic. Toronto proper can support an OHL team.

-- Last time these two met on Nov. 2, Donati was on leave from the club for personal reasons. Since returning, he's had a seven-point game against Brampton. However, that same night, Caria had eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) to set a new Majors club record for points in a game. Sheldon Keefe had set the record with six in 1998.