Third Period Dramatics Decide Great Lakes Playoff Opener

They played each other to game 7 of the Great Lakes Junior C Final last year with Belle River eventually taking home the league title. In game 1 of this year’s Great Lakes Junior C playoffs, it was familiar foes with a familiar result as the Belle River Canadiens downed the Wheatley Sharks Friday night. The game however, needed an incredible third period push by the home Canadiens.

Veteran Josh Trembley got the Wheatley Sharks on the board first with assists going to Kevin Swatzky and Craig Adamson.

In the second period, Wheatley continued to control the play, putting on a special teams display. Austin Fontaine stole a puck midway through the frame and walked in shorthanded, scoring to put the Sharks ahead 2-0. Minutes later, Sebastian Kanally scored Wheatley’s second shorthanded goal of the period giving Wheatley a 3-0 lead heading into the third period. Unfortunately for the Sharks though, their shorthanded magic would soon end, and penalties would become their undoing.

Chris DiNatale scored two powerplay goals for Belle River, including the go-ahead goal, while Nik Dobrich picked up another marker with the extra man during a third period to forget for the Wheatley Sharks. Spencer VanBuskirk also scored an even strength goal before Dylen Impens capped off Belle River’s comeback win sliding one into the open net.

From up 3-0, to a 5-3 loss, the Wheatley Sharks sunk quickly in the third period. Game two returns to Wheatley Monday night at 7:30pm.