Clark provides Stars OT magic

  St. Thomas ties the GOJHL series at one with Leamington

Friday, March 16, 2018

By Rob J. Ross 

ST. THOMAS - Christian Clark's first career overtime goal in junior hockey is a big one.

Clark scored 2:52 in to the extra period, lifting the St. Thomas Stars over the Leamington Flyers, 3-2, tying the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) Western Conference semifinal at one.

"I don't think I ever scored an OT goal, so it's pretty exciting. All of the boys jumped in and it was pretty hectic but it was fun," said Clark. "I saw (defenceman Mason) Millman, he had a good shot just over the net and he rushed around the net for the puck. I just got on the opposite side of the net. He found me. It was an easy tap in.

"I haven't scored in awhile so it's a monkey off the back. It feels so good. I'm happy to contribute and hopefully I can do more Sunday night."

Clark also had an assist in the game, for the 18-year old forward's first two points of the playoffs.

The best of seven series goes back to Leamington for game three Sunday and returns to St. Thomas for game four, on Monday.

St. Thomas had gone almost five periods without a goal going back to game one, a 2-0 loss at Leamington, before striking twice in 82 seconds late second period, for a 2-1 lead. Cal Horvat tied the affair, before Brett Fisher scored on the power play.

"We hung with it and battled back. Clarkie had a really good game. On that same shift he had two breakaways (before Horvat tied the game). We gained momentum there and took the 2-1 lead. The boys are resilient. It's a good team builder for sure," Stars' head coach Darren Kelly said. "It was a sense of belief. In the Sarnia series we averaged four goals a game and then we go dry in the first game. It's not that we didn't have chances, we had a lot of chances. It was just about being patient. We can't force things."

 Josh Pope-Ferguson gave Leamington a 1-0 lead, in the first period. Dylan Weston tied the game with just over seven minutes remaining in the third period.

"Leamington is a good hockey team. (Head coach) Tony (Piroski) has his guys playing well," Kelly said. "Tonight was similar to last game, back and forth, but not a lot of shots. Puck possession was to the outside, but as far as shots, a lot of blocked shots. The teams are probably the top two teams in the league for blocked shots."

Anthony Hurtubise made 28 saves between the pipes for the Stars.

Each team only had two minor penalties and one power play. Stars' Matt Couto did receive a checking from behind game misconduct in the third period, resulting in a one game suspension.

Adam Keyes continues to lead the Stars in playoff scoring with 11 points (six goals, five assists), but is without a point against Leamington. Both Brett Fisher and Peter Fleming have 10 points each. Millman has a team high six assists.