Juvy Red Wings complete comeback in overtime thriller

February 24, 2016 · 0 Comments

The Juvenile Red Wings celebrate their overtime victory over the Loyalist Jets Saturday at the Trisan Centre. The Wings are moving onto the provincial semifinals.

By Jake Courtepatte
What better way for the Juvenile Schomberg Red Wings to complete their series comeback than with a clinching comeback win in overtime.
The Wings, on their heels down 4 – 0 in a first-to-six-points OMHA quarterfinal series with the Loyalist Jets, treated their fans to one of the most thrilling hockey games of the season on Saturday after back-to-back wins to tie the series at four.
The Trisan Centre was rocking early in the first period when the Wings had numerous chances to open the scoring, including back-to-back powerplays, but to no avail. It was silenced when the Jets were the first on the board, a screened and tipped shot from the point, with three minutes remaining on one of Loyalist’s first chances of the game.
It was 2 – 0 on the very next shift, the momentum quickly going to the Loyalist bench. A frustrated four minute penalty kill for a shot to the head threatened to close out the period, but the ever-common presence of Dylan Fitzgibbon and Luca Germinario combined for a shorthanded marker just seconds later, with Germinario finishing off a beautiful backhanded saucer pass.
Three goals in under two minutes almost turned into four, with Dan Giglio going in alone but was stopped by the Loyalist goalie. The Wings entered the first intermission down 2 – 1.
Schomberg continued to dominate the play throughout their double minor to kill off in the second, but once again it was Loyalist that struck. A failed clearing attempt out of the zone once again made it a two-goal cushion for the Jets.
What seemed to be the final nail in the coffin came in the final twenty seconds of the middle frame, when a defensive miscue at the opposing blue line led to the Jets taking a 4 – 1 lead into the final twenty minutes. An unsportsmanlike conduct call then followed the Wings into the dressing room.
Cue the drama.
Early in the third, Germinario hooked up with Tristan Berry on another 2-on-1, who trickled it over the line to cut the lead to two. The pressure continued for the Wings as the Jets took to playing a shutdown defense, with the majority of play happening in the offensive zone.
With seven minutes to go, Mitchell Harknett cleaned up a Giglio rebound to bring Schomberg to within one.
Finally, with under three minutes left on the clock, the comeback was complete when Germinario squeaked one five-hole through the Loyalist goaltender.
A ten-minute overtime period followed, wherein a tie would send the teams back to the Loyalist rink in a winner-takes-all situation.
It wasn’t necessary. Lucas Brockie played the overtime hero for the Wings, burying it from the slot to complete the epic comeback (both series and game) to advance to the next round.
Schomberg moves on to face the South Bruce Blades in the provincial semifinal, with dates yet to be announced. The other semifinal has the Cayuga Stars facing off against the Lambton Shore Predators.
For schedules, visit www.schombergminorhockey.com.