When
Ben Bowen rifled a fifteen foot rocket high over the goalie's blocker four
minutes into sudden death overtime, it not only won the game for the Russelle
Chiropractic Novice AAA Petes, it also staved off elimination and pulled the
team even with the York Simcoe Express in their OMHA first round playoff
series. The Petes opened the scoring in the first period on a goal by Owen
Cassidy assisted by Zach Russelle. In a series where goals have been at a
premium, a 1-0 lead at home, at the end of the first period, appeared to put the
Petes in the driver’s seat. However, a
strong push by the talented Express resulted in three quick goals and a 3-1
York Simcoe lead less than halfway through the middle frame...The Petes didn’t give up. They regained their focus and ended the second period playing strongly. A quick power play goal by Bowen just nineteen seconds into the third got the Petes going, and four minutes later Colin Fitzgerald pulled the team even, finishing off a beautiful three-way passing play with Ty Rupnow and Cam Burke. When York Simcoe responded with a breakaway marker, the Petes season was once again in jeopardy, but as they have all season, the boys pulled together, fought back and tied the score. Fittingly, it was Cole Van Huizen, one of the hardest working Petes, who scored the biggest goal of the season, banging in a Nathan Gerelus’ rebound to make it 4-4 with five minutes to go. From that point on the Petes tightened up their defence while goalie Lewis Brocklehurst turned aside all remaining Express shots until Ben Bowen sent the series to a fifth game.
The Russelle Chiropractic Novice AAA Petes and the York Simcoe Express get right back at it tomorrow afternoon on Sunday, February 28th at St. Andrew’s College in Aurora.