The second game of the OMHA quarterfinals between Grimsby and the St. Thomas Bantam AE Junior Stars was fought to the last second of the overtime period.
Even though Grimsby started strong out-shooting the Stars in the first period, the Stars were the ones able to capitalize scoring 3 goals, the first one by #16 Mathew Roberts unassisted and two more by #9 Cody Howard. Brendan Robison (#7) and Andrew Wood (#5) both earned an assist and we went to the first intermission ahead with a scoreboard of 3-0.
Everything went downhill in the second period as the Stars started to loose control of the puck and giving up a series of bad penalties including an almost two full minutes of 5 on 3 to give Grimsby the opportunity to get close and end the period with only a one goal deficit.
Grimsby did not slow down and tied up the game in minute six of the third period. The scoreboard did not move from there to send the game to overtime where both teams kept battling for the puck in a very intensive game. Stars net-minder #1 Marco Valdez faced a season record setting 51 shots but was able to hang on for the tie in spite of a last second scare where a Grimsby player got ahead of the Stars defense and ripped a shot that ringed the crossbar. Fortunately, the puck bounced away from the net.
With this, Grimsby goes ahead in the series 3 points to 1 as the Stars dropped a very disappointing first game where, in spite of a very strong performance by St. Thomas net-minder #35 Dylan Hodgson, the team was unable to turn on the offense and succumbed with a score of 2-1. The only St. Thomas goal in this game was scored by #16 Matthew Roberts with his third of the season, assisted by #3 Jaden Sunderland and #13 Chris Mikulinac.
Let’s tie the series guys!
Go St. Thomas!!