Nustadia Generals fall in overtime of championship game in Whitby
Dec 02, 2009 - 03:12 PM
OSHAWA -- The Nustadia Recreation Oshawa Minor Generals minor atom AA hockey team nearly had a crowning moment this weekend, competing at the Silver Stick tournament in Whitby.
Oshawa reached the championship game against Richmond Hill, and forced overtime with a late third-period goal, but with just 53 seconds remaining in the first OT, Richmond Hill's Cameron Massey scored to give the Stars a 4-3 win and the championship.
Matthew Stradling, Josh Metzner and Ty Johnston each had a goal and an assist for the Minor Gens. Johnston's goal with just 2:43 remaining in the third period tied the score at 3-3.
The Oshawa team had a fabulous run, winning four straight games leading up to the final. The success was attributed to tight checking, improved passing, a solid effort from the defencemen all weekend and dependable goaltending from the tandem of Hayden Parkins and Braden Babcock, who surrendered only eight goals all weekend for a 1.60 GAA.
The Minor Generals, with an overall record of 17-10-4, will now prepare for a big home-and-home Lakeshore League clash with Whitby this weekend.
Oshawa managed to beat Whitby in overtime to reach the Silver Stick final, coming from a goal down twice to tie the game, then winning when Josh Metzner scored 1:19 into the extra session. Stradling scored both regulation time goals for Oshawa, giving him 30 on the season.
In pool play, Oshawa beat Milton 2-0, Markham Waxers 6-2 and Ajax 5-1.
The team went into the tournament on a high note, defeating Peterborough in back-to-back league games, winning 7-5 on the road and 5-1 at home.
Johnston led the way offensively with a hat trick in each game. Graeme McCrory added two goals and two assists in Peterborough while Metzner and Stradling scored the others. Babcock made some key saves to allow the Gens to score twice late in the game to seal the win.
Stradling scored the other two in the home-ice win, while Parkins was solid in goal and frustrated Peterborough time and time again.
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