Last second goal beats Caledonia in OMHA BB bantam rep opener
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Tillsonburg Oxford Source for Sports bantam's Dylan Holman scored a last second goal Monday night to beat Caledonia 3-2 in Game 1 of their OMHA BB preliminary round playoff hockey series.
Literally last second.
"It went in, I looked up... I don't even know what I saw," said Oxford Source for Sports coach Derek Partlo. "I saw zeroes, but I didn't hear a buzzer. I don't think that's even possible – when it hits 0.0, it has to go... it's programmed. I don't know, maybe because the crowd was cheering?"
"I was focused on the puck," said Holman, not knowing exactly how many seconds, or rather tenths of a second were left as the puck crossed the line.
When Holman looked up, he saw 0.0 and like Partlo did not recall hearing the buzzer.
"I didn't hear anything," he admitted. "Focused on the puck."
Tied 2-2, the game-winning play developed off a faceoff deep in Caledonia's zone with only 10.5 seconds left in regulation. Caledonia goalie Alex Diebel made an initial save, but a rebound dropped for Holman, who rushed toward the crease to chip it across the line.
After the goal the referee and linesmen had a discussion behind the net, then made a decision while players from both teams waited.
"Waiting... was rough," said Holman.
"The ref said he pointed to the net as he saw the puck go in," said Oxford Source for Sports' Austin McCrossin, who was wearing the 'C' for Tillsonburg, "and he signaled a goal before he heard any buzzer. When he turned around, after he blew the whistle, the clock said zero. He talked it over with his linesmen, and they said they both saw the puck go in. When they all turned around, the clock said zero. So the ref kind of decided on his initial call, that he blew the whistle before he heard the buzzer."
Partlo recalled an earlier Southern Counties game against St. George (Nov. 5) when Tillsonburg lost 5-4 on a buzzer-beater.
"They counted it," Partlo nodded. "It's hard to argue if the ref is watching the puck, listening for the buzzer. If he doesn't hear it, it's a good goal."
"It's huge," said McCrossin, noting the importance of winning the series opener. "We talked before the game about execution. Second effort's so big, win those second efforts, don't lose battles. And rebounds and shots on net are big. Yeah, we're pretty pumped to win and get a good start."
Although the bantams didn't win their recent Silver Stick qualifier in Pelham, McCrossin said the effort was there.
"It was unbelievable at the Silver Stick. Our effort was the best I've seen in a long time."
It was the kind of effort McCrossin said the team needs the rest of the series.
"They are going to come out flying and we know that, so we want even more (effort)."
"They're going to come out fighting hard," Holman agreed, "so we're going to have to try our hardest."
OMHA BB PLAYDOWNS
Game 1
Tillsonburg 3, Caledonia 2
FIRST PERIOD
5:38 Tillsonburg, Landon Partlo (Griffin Sinden)
SECOND PERIOD
13:28 Caledonia, Benjamin Harley (Jacob Martin)
8:18 Tillsonburg, Dylan Holman (Logan Partlo, Griffin Sinden)
2:26 Caledonia, Benjamin Harley (Max Pleau)
THIRD PERIOD
0:01 Tillsonburg, Dylan Holman (Shane Brazier, Brady Scruton)
Caledonia and Tillsonburg met only once this season prior to Monday's OMHA BB playdown opener. Caledonia won an October 15th Southern Counties game 4-2 in Tillsonburg.
"We didn't have Shane Brazier, didn't have Griffin Sinden," Partlo noted. "Start of the year. We've had four different player changes since then, so it's a different team."
Tillsonburg went into Monday night's game short-staffed, and will be missing regulars – including their captain – most of the six-point series, which will likely be over this weekend. Game 2 goes tonight (Wednesday) in Caledonia, returning Thursday for Game 3. If necessary, Game 4 and 5 will be played Saturday in Caledonia, Sunday in Tillsonburg.
"We deserve a break just the way the year's been," said Partlo. "We've had some player movement, so we've been short for the last month or so."