Brian Watts - OJHL Images
Ontario Junior Hockey League game action between Cobourg and Oakville at the Governors Showcase Tournament
The Oakville Blades took on the Trenton Golden Hawks in the second and final game of the weekend for the host city. After failing to defeat Cobourg on Friday night, Oakville came into the second game hoping to make up for the lost two points the game prior. Unfortunately, the Golden Hawks pulled out a 4-3 overtime victory over the Blades on a clutch goal by Michael Siddall, which was good enough for just one point at the final buzzer.
After a bit of back and forth action, Trenton got the first really good scoring opportunity of the game. On a fantastic scoring chance on a two on one, it looked as though the black and gold had the goal in the bag. However, Daniel Mannella somehow managed to jump across the crease and, using his patented glove hand to keep the puck out of the net. The Blades looked to have all the momentum afterwards, as Tanner Shaw took a fantastic wrist shot to get his first goal of the season for the Blades, giving him six points in six games with the club.
It took five minutes in the second for Trenton to tie it up. After Oakville was struggling to keep five men on the ice, Robert Smythe knocked the bouncing puck out of the air and beat Mannella for the power-play goal. Three minutes later, Brady Wiffen made no mistake on the doorstep, giving Trenton their first lead of the game. Their effort was finally starting to pay off, as the shots were 29-10 in their favour by the second goal.
The Blades, who were having trouble directing shots toward Trenton goaltender Riley Brown, would finally score their second goal. Up a man, the Blades tied the game following an incredible slap shot by Gregory Campbell from the point, only to have Tkaczuk redirect the puck with the tip. The tie wouldn’t last for long, as Michael Siddall managed to give Trenton back the lead after solid passing in front of the Oakville net, taking the 3-2 lead into the change room.
The back and forth gameplay continued in the third. With just over eight minutes left in regulation, Christian Rajic made a fantastic driving effort towards the goal crease and jammed the puck past Brown, tying the game at three apiece.
With no winner being declared in regulation, the game would need overtime. Not just one overtime, but two. Using a new format that no longer includes a shootout, the game would have to be decided during a three on three competition. With 2:45 remaining in the period, Siddall took advantage of a wild rebound in front of Daniel Mannella and ended the game on his teams 43rd shot.
