TERRIERS MINOR MIDGETS
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The Scotiabank Orillia Terriers Minor Midget team went to war against the Quinte West Hawks in OMHA semi-final action.
In Game 1, Quinte came out hitting. An early five-minute power play saw the Terriers get two power-play goals from Whyatt Winkel and Sam Trumble but Quinte tallied a powerplay goal of their own to bring the game within one. First period assists went to Trumble, Brock Jeffels and Carter Balkwill.
Orillia’s Jonah Teahen capitalized later in the game, when he and his line mates Ty Snelleman and Jace Gilbert all connected on the goal. A few minutes later Trumble registered his second of the game on the power play, with assists going to Jeffels and Owenn Banks. Leading 4-1 with under five minutes to go, the Quinte Hawks battled hard, cutting the lead to 4-3 on two late period goals. Kamden McIvor held off the late surge to seal the win.
Orillia traveled to Trenton for Game 2, where the injury-plagued Terriers came out flat. Quinte took a 1-0 lead early in the first period. The Terriers were able to capitalize when Banks picked up the rebound in front and deposited into the net. Assists went to Andrew Thorn and Kaiden Robitaille. Second period penalty trouble caught up to the Terriers, when Quinte scored in mid-frame giving them the 2-1 lead.
Despite several late charges by the Terriers, Quinte scored into the empty net to give them the 3-1 win. McIvor took the loss in net.
In Game 3, the Terriers were ready with two first period tallies. Trumble scored, assisted by Jeffels, and then set up Gilbert a few minutes later to give the squad a 2-0 lead. Quinte cut the lead in half early in the period until Robitaille tipped a Thorn point shot on the powerplay. Balkwill registered the second assist on the play.
The score remained 3-1 and looking to capitalize, Quinte pulled their goalie with just under three minutes in the game. Unfortunately for them, Robitaille and Connor Flannery swarmed the Hawk defence causing a turn over. Robitaille slapped the puck into the empty net with just over a minute left to giving the Terriers a 4-1 victory. McIvor’s late period saves helped the squad earn the win.
In Game 4, the team traveled in a coach bus to Trenton looking to close out the series. In the first period, Orillia opened it up when Banks fired the puck past the Hawks goalie on an assist from Robitaille. Quinte charged late in the first period to even the game at 1-1.
In the second period, Banks scored again from Robitaille, then minutes later Quinn McConnell set up Robitaille for the one-timer to give the Terriers a 3-1 lead. Orillia’s defence core suffered two injuries in the game, forcing Snelleman and Teahen to carry an odd role on the back end.
Quinte scored in the middle of the third to cut the lead to 3-2. With under 90 seconds left in the game, the Hawks goalie again cleared the net for the extra attacker. The Hawks fired everything but the kitchen sink at McIvor, but could not solve the battling goalie.
With less than 15 seconds left, Robitaille blocked a point shot, skated down the ice and deposited his second empty netter in two nights. Orillia won 4-2.
Orillia’s forwards are: Jeffels, Flannery, Teahen, Robitaille, Snelleman, Trumble, Sam Laughlin, Banks, Gilbert and assistance from call ups Ethan Marwick and Kevin Demeulles.
Orillia’s defence consisted of Thorn, Carter Bernard, Owen Palaro, Jhett Winkel, Whyatt Winkel, McConnell and call up Balkwill. Orillia’s goalies were McIvor and Colby Small.
Orillia draws Welland in the finals in their search for the red hats.
- Game 1: Saturday March 14 — 9 p.m. at Welland
- Game 2: Sunday March 15 — 4:30 p.m. at Rotary Place
- Game 3: Saturday March 21 — 6:40 p.m. at Welland
- Game 4: Sunday March 22 — 3 p.m. at Rotary Blue
- Game 5: Saturday March 28 — 6:40 p.m. at Welland
- Game 6: Monday March 30 — 8:30 p.m. at Rotary Place
