Lucas Hucal The Ot Hero; Oakville Buzz Survive Scare From Kitchener-Waterloo

Photo: Lukas Bernasiewicz

Close games have been the norm for the Oakville Buzz over the last week. On June 9 they were on top of a 12-11 win over the Peterborough Lakers, and two nights later forced the unbeaten Orangeville Northmen to overtime, but fell in the extra frame 7-6. Facing Kitchener-Waterloo (1-8) at home on Tuesday night they needed extra time again, but this time they were on the winning side, 11-10.

It appeared in the early going the game would have a different story. Riley Ford, who started the season with KW, scored two early goals for the Buzz. Unable to capitalize on a 5-on-3, Oakville did get a third goal later from Jake Dawick. However, Kitchener would keep the period close on a power play goal from Malikye Good (who was traded for Ford) and a buzzer-beater from Zane Dalpe. Oakville led 3-2 after the first.

KW would take the lead on Good’s second power play goal midway through the second. A pair of goals from the Buzz put them back on top. Following Dawick’s second, a scrum broke out earning Kitchener a major penalty. Lowen Martin and Grady Holmes would both score shorthanded, but, with just over a minute left in the period, Will Sheehan would score twice on the power play to end the second 7-6 in favour of Oakville.

First overall OJLL draft pick Clark Dunford and KW points leader Chris Rathwell scored within 24 seconds to swing the lead back. Sheehan had a pair of goals in the period, but both were only able to tie the score, until KW took another penalty after a goal, leading to Eddie Qu giving Oakville the lead on the power play, just 15 seconds after tying it. It looked like the Buzz would steal the game until, in the final minute, with the extra attacker on, Dunford struck again. His eleventh of the season forced overtime with the score knotted at 10.

It took both team time outs and 6:13 of action to find a winner. Qu found Lucas Hucal in transition for his third goal of the season and the game winner, 11-10 for Oakville.

Will Sheehan scored his fifth hat trick of the season, and fourth in the last five games (4 goals, 2 assists). His 24 goals are tied for second in the OJLL, one back of Toronto’s Willem Firth, and Sheehan’s 44 points are also behind Firth for third. Eddie Qu also finished with six points (1 goal, 5 assists).

Clark Dunford (2 goals) and Grady Holmes (2 goals, 2 assists) were the only multi-goal scorers for Kitchener-Waterloo. Although, Zane Dalpe led the team with six points (1 goal, 5 assists).

Kitchener-Waterloo will now travel to Pickering to face the Toronto Beaches (4-6) on Thursday, while Oakville will be in Mimico (6-3) on Saturday.