Eagles Fall to Ice on Clarington Thunder Day

There’s no better way to kick off the end of a weekend than with some matinee hockey at the Garnet B. Rickard Toyota Pad. It was a matchup between the Georgina Ice, coming off two home wins to kick off their season, and the Clarington Eagles, who lost a tough one in overtime just a couple of days ago, making their record 1-0-1.

Before the game, the Eagles had Matt Sadler on hand to sing “O Canada,” and as he has done many times before, he blew everyone away with his powerful version.

Now, on to the game. Your starting goalies were Aiden Lindsay for Georgina and Jairus Ford for the Eagles. However, three minutes into the game, Ford had to leave due to injury, putting Nate Gillis in net for the rest of the way.

A boarding call to Alessandro Petreccia put the Eagles on the board first with a power-play goal. Just 16 seconds into the power play, Brayden Hicks struck first for the Eagles. But the lead was short-lived. After an interference penalty to Nolan Matheson, Georgina converted on their first chance with a goal by Hayden Runge. The Eagles had some power-play time to work with before the end of the first period, and their best chance was by Ben Stycuk, who got the puck past Aiden Lindsay, but it didn’t find the back of the net. So, we went to the second period tied at 1-1.

Second Period

A rush led by Carson Mackenzie and Blake Peters-Davey was spoiled by the stick of Georgina defenseman Ryan Tait. After a Georgina power play had just ended, the Ice thought they had the go-ahead goal at the seven-minute mark, but somehow, Nate Gillis kept the puck out. Despite the Ice celebrating, the referees said no goal. Another two-on-one for the Eagles between Gianluca Meli and Caleb Bidgood led to another Eagles power play after Bidgood was taken down close to the net. You have to give praise to the Eagles’ Owen Laton on this power play, who attempted to get numerous shots through and got a couple to the net, but nothing found the back of the goal.

Third Period

Georgina had a great chance to go up three minutes into the period, but a nice block by Vanhaverbeke spoiled that chance. With the Eagles killing a penalty, Caleb Bidgood got a breakaway. It was just a one-on-one between him and Aiden Lindsay, and the Ice goalie was cool as ice with a blocker save. Moments later, a Georgina shot hit the post. For the second game in a row, we would need overtime at the Rickard Arena.

Overtime

The Eagles had the best chance to win this game after a turnover by Georgina goaltender Lindsay to the Eagles’ Brayden Hicks. But Hicks couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity. Into the last minute of play, Alessandro Petreccia made a nice move around the last Eagles defenseman back, leaving it just him and Nate Gillis. Petreccia won it for Georgina with a nice move to the backhand. During the celebration, the penalty box door was not shut, and Petreccia fell into the penalty box—a place he had been four times during the game. He would be okay and have the words “GWG” next to his name.
It was a hard-fought battle for the Eagles but once again on the other end of an overtime heartbreaker.

Their three-game home stretch will culminate this Thursday, September 25, at 7:25 PM against Little Britain. This game will also be the Eagles’ Thanksgiving Food Drive, so come out to the game and bring some food for donation if you are able.

Come fly with your Clarington Eagles!

Mike Jackman