Metzger scores winner while shorthanded in final minute of game three as
St. Thomas sweeps the six point final series against Innisfil in three games
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
St. Thomas Jr. Stars, OMHA Atom A champions, from left, front - Darren Hagerty, LJ Wilson; first row - AJ Power, Jaityn Sutton, Kaleb Levesque, Kurtis Grant, Mason Burns, Adam Derganc; second row - Ethan Silcox, Mathew Zylstra, Hunter McQuiggan, Matthew Masschaele, Ryan Willmore, Owen Lawrence, Liam Metzger, Chase Holder, Sam Taylor; back row - Andrew Power (head coach), Josh Silcox, Chris Holder, Greg Wilson, Lee Grant. (photo / courtesy St. Thomas Jr. Stars)
By Rob J. Ross
ST. THOMAS - It is a goal Liam Metzger will be telling his friends about for a long time, or maybe even showing them in the driveway.
With 27 seconds left in the third period, Metzger shook loose for a short-handed break-away and scored, lifting the St. Thomas Jr. Stars, to a 5-4 win and an Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) Atom A championship.
St. Thomas captured the title, taking the six point final, against the Innisfil Winterhawks, in three straight games, the clincher occurring at Innisfil, on March 24.
"I was just really excited that I was in the right spot at the right time and I was trying my best," said Metzger, a student at Mitchell Hepburn elementary school. "There were 27 seconds left in the period and I went up and shot it top corner. It feels really good and truly a lot of fun."
The game featured a number of momentum swings, as Innisfil opened the scoring, only to see St. Thomas strike with three consecutive goals. Then the Winterhawks stormed back with their own trio of goals.
"Unbelievable. It was a roller coaster of emotions," Stars' head coach Andrew Power said. "We were up 3-1 in control after two periods and then they were all over us and came back. We were down 4-3. One of our coaches, Greg Wilson said, you guys have to calm down, just relax."
Kaleb Levesque, who had not scored in five games, completed a hat trick, tying the game at four.
That set up Metzger's magic, assisted by Ethan Silcox and Owen Lawrence.
Matthew Masschaele knotted the score at one.
"We didn't play our best hockey, in this game or the series," said Power. "We just kept going. We had some puck luck which was fantastic. We persevered and got it done."
Game two at St. Thomas, on March 18, was oddly similar. The Jr. Stars led 3-1, before Innisfil rallied to tie. AJ Power scored the winner in the third period.
Sam Taylor, with two goals and Mason Burns, also scored for St. Thomas. Power, Ryan Willmore, Mathew Zylstra and Levesque, on Power's goal, drew assists.
St. Thomas finished their 2018 playdown run with a 15-1 record.
"The Burlington series and this series were tough ones. We weren't blowing anybody out but we were winning," said Power. "We can score goals, but we just have to keep them out."
A year ago, 14 of the current players, won the OMHA minor atom A title.
"It's the camaraderie. All of the kids really like each other. There's no butting heads. They're a very close knit group of guys," Power said. "The parent group on our team is fantastic. Everybody gets along and there are no issues. It makes coaching a lot easier. We have a tight knit group."
Power also credited Joe Doyle, Mike Ellis and Brad Clinton, for helping the team.
Last time St. Thomas won OMHA at the major atom level, was 1996 and 1998.
Up next for this year's Jr. Stars, is the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) tournament, in Etobicoke, next month. This five team event features the champions from OMHA, Alliance, Northern Ontario (NOHA), Greater Toronto (GTHL) and the host team.