The St. Thomas Junior Stars Bantam AE team takes the first game of the Shamrock League Pool C Final with a final score of 5–2 and steals the home advantage from Petrolia.
Everything started with a long delay due to what appears to have been a miscommunication of the Petrolia center with the referees. The refs were not to be seen until about almost 15 minutes after the regular start of the game. Since the beginning, the game was plagued with hostility and constant cheap shots all the way to the third period when even the parents got a bit too involved with each other.
In the sports side of it, the Stars dominated the action with a record setting 63 shots on net that kept the Petrolia goalie entertained more often than not. St. Thomas opened the scoreboard in the first period by the hands of #9 Cody Howard. Petrolia tied it 5 minutes later also by the hands of #9 but with a different shirt colour.
The second period was all St. Thomas as the Stars combined for 3 more goals including the first of the season for #14 Eric Pineda; the “comeback” goal by #6 Christian Kootenayoo (who just came back from retirement); and the ninth of the season for #8 Mark Lewis.
Petrolia tried to return in the third with an early goal scored by #17 of the local team, who took advantage of a screen set by one of his teammates to reduce their deficit to only 2 goals. Petrolia kept on it but they were not able to bend the St. Thomas net minder #35 Dylan Hodgson. Dylan stood tall and stopped everything the home team was able to shoot his way. With this, his second win; Dylan improves his personal record in the season as he is trying to end the season strong.
The Stars added the last nail in the coffin with 7 minutes to go in the game by the hands of #3 Jaden Sunderland for the final score of 5-2. The last few minutes of the game became quite a penalty fest that saw both penalty boxes crowded with personnel. At the end, a total of 18 penalty minutes were handed to the home team Petrolia and 12 minutes to the visitors Stars.
The series resumes Sunday when St. Thomas receives the visit of Petrolia at the Timken Center.
Don’t slow down boys!
Go St. Thomas!!