Orangeville Northmen Survive Overtime Battle to Defeat Oakville Buzz 7-6

PHOTO: DAVE FRYER

The Orangeville Northmen travelled to the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre two weeks ago and won their fourth game of the season 12-5, ending the unbeaten run of the Oakville Buzz. On Sunday, Oakville was looking for revenge inside a hot Tony Rose Arena and nearly handed the Northmen their first loss of the season. It’s a building known for the home side breaking out in transition, which they did in overtime, leading to the 7-6 game winner. 

Oakville’s Riley Ford started the season with Kitchener-Waterloo and scored four goals and eight points in the season opener against Mimico. He’d have five goals and twelve points in four games with Kitchener-Waterloo before being acquired by the Buzz on June 2. Ford opened scoring on Sunday night, giving him five goals in his last three games with Oakville, and 13 points since the trade. The lead would be short-lived though, because back-to-back Buzz penalties led to goals from Jameson Bucktooth and Trey Deere. Xander Derkatz eighteenth of the season with six minutes left would tie the period 2-2, which is where the first would end. 

Both teams capitalized quickly on power plays to stay tied in the second. A save from Evan Constantopopoulos quickly turned into transition when Lucas Hucal found Owen Orpana down floor for his first career OJLL goal. Will Sheehan made it three goals in 1:58 for Oakville, leading to a one goal lead heading into the third. 

With three minutes left in the second, offseason acquisition Aidan Fearn was assessed a major penalty for boarding. As the penalty carried into the third, Liam Matthews scored short-handed to tie the game at five. A minute later, Jack MacAlpine responded on the power play putting the Buzz back in front. Which is where the game would stay for nearly ten minutes until American Joey Spallina tied the game with his thirteenth goal. Down the stretch the story was the netminders as Constantopopoulos and Chris Origlieri matched each other save for save, sending the game to overtime tied 6-6. 

Orangeville won the opening faceoff and immediately called time out. Unable to score, play continued with Oakville also using, and not scoring, with their time out. Just past the midway mark of the extra frame, Origlieri sent a pass down floor. Colm Barnett took off, finding Nate Ruff who potted his fifth of the season to win 7-6, and keep the Northmen perfect record intact, 9-0. 

The night truly did belong to the netminders. Chris Origlieri was spectacular again allowing just six goals in a full game for the fifth time this season. He stopped 43 of 49 shots, while his Oakville counterpart Evan Constantopopoulos turned aside 51 of 58. 

Oakville will return home Tuesday to host Kitchener-Waterloo (1-6) while the Northmen’s next text will be Wednesday in Burlington (5-3).