JACK MACALPINE SCORES OAKVILLE’S OVERTIME GOAL, DEFEATING MIMICO MOUNTAINEERS

If Wednesday night at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre was the last time the Oakville Buzz would be together ahead of Saturday’s trade deadline, they went out with a bang. Facing a relentless Mimico Mountaineers team, the game was close all night. In the end, Jack MacAlpine was the overtime hero winning for the yellow-and-black clad Buzz, 8-7.

Initially, it looked to be a long night for the home team. Mimico dominated the first period in chances, possession and shots 22-10. However, they only managed two goals from Mark Watters and Justin Lee, both before the halfway mark. A late power play allowed Brian Jackman to cut the gap to 2-1, which was the score after the first.

Oakville was playing without suspended head coach Troy Cordingley. In the opening minute, assistant Matt Di Lella was ejected from the game, leaving just former Mountaineer Robert Hudson behind the home bench. On the power play, Justin Lee found the back of the net. He’d score once more, in the third, despite multiple opportunities on pick-and-rolls alone near the crease. Six minutes into the period, Ben McIsaac scored shorthanded to increase the lead to 4-1. Following another Mimico penalty, Will Sheehan scored, followed by rookie Charlie Boon. Brian Jackman and Xander Derkatz high stepping over the top tied the score at five heading to the third.

As the first two periods started, by the halfway mark of the period Mimico had scored twice again. After Sheehan scored a second power play goal, Jackman ran into a loose ball just outside of the restraining line. The graduating forward put a swim move on his defender, then spun into a twist shot that went past Nate Whittom to tie the game at seven and eventually force overtime.

In the extra frame, Jack MacAlpine slipped off his pick towards the crease. Sheehan found him with a cross-floor pass and, toeing the crease line, MacAlpine won the game 8-7 for Oakville.

Brian Jackman’s hat trick (3+1) was just his second of the season and fifth of his OJLL career. Will Sheehan (2+2) was the only other Buzz player to score twice. Riley Ford led Oakville with five assists. Evan Constantopoulos was tremendous stopping 48 of 55 shots.

Multiple goal scorers for Mimico were Justin Lee (3) and Mark Watters (2). Isaiah Moran-Weekes led the Mountaineers with four points (1+3).