Stars heading to a seventh game

  Brett Fisher scores game six winner as Stars edged Leamington, 2-1

Friday, March 23, 2018

By Rob J. Ross 

ST. THOMAS - There will be a game seven showdown for the St. Thomas Stars.

Brett Fisher scored with under seven minutes remaining in the third period, to lift St. Thomas over the Leamington Flyers, 2-1, tying the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) Western Conference semi-final at three games, in front of 850 observers, at Memorial Arena.

"We played well and gave ourselves a chance to win game seven and that's what we wanted," Stars' head coach Darren Kelly said. "Hurbe played well in net and we had a lot more scoring chances than they did."

Stars' goalie Anthony Hurtubise made 28 saves, including on a penalty shot by Griffin Robinson, with six minutes to go in the third. The Stars edged the Flyers in shots, 30-29.

( Game boxscore)

It was an impressive turn around from a 7-3 defeat just 24 hours earlier, in Leamington.

"We had to forget about the loss. It's in the past. We can't change it. We had team meeting (pre-game) and challenged the boys to be better," said Kelly, adding what changed was "the sense of urgency, the will to win and the compete level."

Fisher's winner was his team leading seventh goal of the playoffs, assisted by defenceman Jackson Brown and Brett's 18-year old twin brother, Kyle.

"I was driving to the net and Browny had a nice shot," said Brett. "Our legs were going a lot more. We were playing with good control, good break-outs. Last night (game five) we couldn't break out too easily."

Both Brett and Kyle, acquired by the Stars from Komoka in January, joined the line-up in time for the playoffs.

"They were very welcoming," said Brett, who also has six assists. "I'm just playing my game and doing what I can to help the team."

Jake Robinson gave the Stars a 1-0 lead, striking on the power play, just 22 seconds into the second period.

Leamington's Jayden Fetter knotted it at one, on the power play, nearing the eight minute mark of the third.

That penalty call and not awarding the Stars a third goal, when their player was tripped up skating towards an empty net in the final minute, frustrated Kelly.

"I didn't think it was a penalty, especially in a game like this, after all of the other stuff that happened in the game," said Kelly. "At the end when we had a breakaway, he calls a penalty when it should have been an empty net goal.

"We have to battle through that as coaches and players. I know it can be frustrating."

Regaining the lead shortly after, within five minutes, was key for the Stars extending their season.

 "It was nerve-wracking. I was nervous when they tied it. We popped one in pretty quick and the nerves went away from there," said Adam Keyes, who leads the Stars, with 15 points, on six goals and nine assists. "We were moving our feet and getting pucks deep and getting shot on net."

Game seven is at Leamington on Sunday. The winner moves on to face the London Nationals, in the Western final.

An opportunity to play their rivals to the north should be motivation enough for the Stars.

"It's all about the boys. There's nothing more we can tell them," said Kelly.