Eagles Offence Awakens in OT Loss

Game #9: Eagles VS LumberJacks

By Mike Jackman

It was a Thanksgiving long weekend clash between rivals, the Clarington Eagles and the Port Perry Lumberjacks. But before the players could dig into their Thanksgiving Day feast, they would need to dig deep to try to get two points at the Garnett B. Rickard (Toyota Pad).

1st Period

The Eagles came out with the best opportunities to score first, including a shot by Gage Ford from the slot area, but a quick save by Ryan Jacobs kept the game at 0-0. However, the Eagles would strike first on their first power play of the game when Brayden Hicks, positioned in front, tipped a shot from Ethan Girard to make it 1-0 Eagles. Penalty trouble for the Lumberjacks led to a two-man advantage for the Eagles, but a huge save by Jacobs and some good penalty killing, killed it off. The Eagles came back strong, though, and Gianluca Meli scored his first goal of the year at 15:57. He then threw a big hit near the penalty box—a big period for #17 in Red.

2nd Period

It was a different story to start the second period. The Lumberjacks came out strong, scoring a goal at 1:06. Johannes Kalm put the puck past Eagles Goaltender Nate Gillis just before the net came off the moorings. It was now 2-1, and Port Perry kept the pressure coming, this time shorthanded, as Austin Fata got a breakaway and made no mistake at 3:06. After this goal, Eagles Goalie Gillis had to leave the game due to a skate issue. Liam Clarke took over in the crease.

In a matter of not even a five-minute period, the Eagles’ special teams were flying! First, it was a power-play goal (PPG) by Gianluca Meli, his second goal of the game. Then, Nolan Matheson scored a shorthanded breakaway goal in close. And then the power play clicked again, courtesy of a shot from the line by Ethan Girard. All of a sudden, it was 5-2 Eagles. But Raine Nadeau would get one of those goals back for the Lumberjacks to cut it back to a two-goal game. Yet again, Gianluca Meli struck for the Eagles, completing his hat trick with a big goal to help increase the Eagles’ lead back to three. Before the end of the period, Liam Aitken made it 6-4 after two periods of play.

3rd Period

If you thought that scoring frenzy in the second would slow down in the third, you would be dead wrong. It took only 47 seconds for Austin Fata to score his second of the game for the LumberJacks. All of a sudden, it was a 6-5 hockey game, and the fans of both clubs were on the edge of their seats.

Stop me if you’ve heard this name already: Gianluca Meli. This kid put on a show at the Rickard Arena on Saturday afternoon and got his fourth of the game with a bullet shot off a faceoff won by Caleb Bidgood. It was 7-5 Eagles. But some late penalty trouble in the third opened the door for the Lumberjacks, and they took advantage. First, a power-play goal by Andrew Naccarato Soule, then two minutes later, a power-play goal by Parker Lemay left the Eagles and their fans shocked. This contest would need sudden death overtime.

OT

A late penalty in the last minute to the Lumberjacks’ Kyle Den Ouden carried over to overtime. The Eagles had a 1:23 power play and had their chances but could do nothing to find the back of the net. This proved to be costly, because at the 4:53 mark of the period, with the clubs now playing three-on-three, Andrew Naccarato Soule put home the winning goal, taking a puck to the net and beating Liam Clarke glove side.

Overtime has not been kind to the Eagles so far this season. This marks their third defeat in extra time this season.

The next action for your Clarington Eagles will be Thursday, October 16th, against these same Port Perry Lumberjacks. If this game is any indication of what’s in store on Thursday, then come out to the Garnett B. Rickard (Toyota Pad) and catch the action—you won’t be disappointed!

 

Happy Thanksgiving, Eagles Fans!

 

Come Fly W

ith Your Clarington Eagles