A heartbreaking loss in overtime — a result shrouded in controversy — has put the McLean & Dickey Orillia Terriers on the brink of elimination.
The Stayner Siskins scored late in the first overtime period to eke out a 1-0 victory over the visiting Terriers Sunday afternoon to take a 3-0 stranglehold in the best-of-seven Provincial Junior Hockey League semi-final series.
It was a hard-fought contest from the opening whistle — and a game the Terriers thought they had won.
At 7:26 of the overtime period, Orillia's Josh Presley took a cross-crease pass and snapped it past Stayner goalie Matteo Gennaro to lift the Terriers to what looked like a crucial victory.
But while the visitors celebrated, the referee waved off the goal, saying the net was off its moorings when the goal was scored. (See video below)
"The goal was disallowed because the officials determined the net was off," said Terriers coach Dalyn Telford. "My opinion is that it was a good hockey goal and not only does the video of the goal show a good hockey goal, it also shows that the net never moved at all."
Telford said a delay of game penalty was assessed to the Stayner goalie for knocking the net off.
"That is the wrong call. The net being knocked off in the last two minutes or in overtime is a penalty shot," Telford said.
He said the call changes the complexion of the series.
"The call made is monumental for the series. Instead of being down 2-1, coming home, we’re down 3-0," lamented the coach, adding he couldn't "say much more" for fear of being fined.
Sunday's game was a duel of two outstanding goalies. Orillia netminder Aidan Jerry was excellent again, stopping 36 of 37 shots. The only goal that beat him came with 72 seconds remaining in overtime when Joseph Magani scored the game's only goal.
Gennaro was also strong, stopping all 27 shots he faced. He has given up just two goals in the first three games of the series.
Both teams went 0-for-4 on the power play in Sunday's matinee played in front of 430 fans at the Stayner Memorial Arena.
The Terriers will need a win in Game 4 to keep their playoff hopes alive. The game will be played Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. at Rotary Place in west Orillia.
