Cornwall Colts start playoffs with 3-2 double-OT thriller against Hawkesbury HawksBack to video
A name that evokes hockey greatness – Beliveau – got the Colts and Hawks first-round playoff series off to a dramatic start, sending Cornwall fans back into the cold in a very happy frame of mind, the home team skating to a 3-2 win thanks to 18-year-old Luc Beliveau’s goal in a second full, 20-minute overtime period.
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Beliveau, of Montreal, scored unassisted 3:29 into the extra session, ending that always-special occasion when the first game of the post-season has participants amped up for the action and thinking of long playoff runs that could culminate with the hoisting of a trophy. The reality of course is, it’s a slog, and, what has transpired over the last six months might not matter all that much.
First-year head coach Todd Walker has done great work in guiding a Cornwall team that became a top-tier franchise again for the first time in close to a decade. The regular-season third-place Colts were opening the playoffs at home on Thursday for the first time in the post-pandemic era, starting the second season as a clear favourite against a Hawkesbury squad that finished in sixth place 11 points behind Cornwall.
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The game started out as almost on script. The Colts blitzed the Hawks with 20 first-period shots— but, they were only lightly rewarded with a 1-0 lead. They would lead 2-1 after two periods, going to the dressing room on a high thanks to Fernand-Olivier Perron’s power-play goal just 35 seconds before intermission.
So why did a very uneasy feeling sweep through the building later on?
It was because 20-year-old veteran netminder Dimitri Pelekos was in goal for the Hawks. He was having a terrific night, one of many the Hawks will need from him if they’re to pull off the series upset.
Excuse the Colts if they never had imagined they’d need Beliveau to launch that rescue mission in double OT. But, hot goalies in the playoffs have been known to emerge in this sport, and Pelekos, of St. Eugene, just a bit southeast of Hawkesbury, was what was standing between the Colts and a much less stressful night at the rink.
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How tense did it get, even before overtime arrived? About 10 minutes after Deklyn Campbell tied the game for the Hawks 2-2 with 3:33 having elapsed in the third period – back when Hawkesbury was being out-shot by a cumulative 33-12 – Cornwall veteran Bradley Fraser appeared to have Pelekos beat but his close range shot from the side of the net rang off the post.
Fraser shook his head in disbelief. Later, teammate Ethan Montroy was doing the same. With just under three minutes left in regulation time, Montroy jabbed at a puck beside the net that Pelekos had just covered with his trapper. The puck was jarred loose but the whistle had blown, and Montroy was irked by the perceived expeditious toot.
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A second or two later he was in a state of disbelief that a penalty was being called on the play, Montroy nabbed for slashing Pelekos’ glove hand, the Colts becoming shorthanded at just about the worst time possible. The Colts killed off the minor, the period would come to an end, the ice resurfacer made another appearance, and the teams would play on, and on.
The game’s first three goals were all power-play markers. Brayden Bowen scored 7:59 into the first period, and Alex Fournier tied it up 1-1 with 2:39 to go in second frame.
The final shots total was 46-34. Announced stars were Beliveau (first), Pelekos (second) and Perron. Donald Hickey got the goaltending win.
Game 2 in the series was in Hawkesbury on Friday night. Game 3 in the best-of-seven CCHL quarterfinal is Sunday at 3 p.m. in Cornwall.
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