MORRISBURG – A stunning comeback midway through the third period by the Lions’ Atom B team tied their game against the Kemptville Panthers B1 team February 14th. All season, the Lions and Panthers have traded the top spot in the standings.
The Panthers built a 3-0 lead scoring once in the first period and twice in the second period on Lions’ goalie Rowan McCooeye.
Then, with 8:17 left in the game, Connor McCurdy sent home Jake Thompson’s pass in front of the net to put the Lions on the scoreboard. Just 24 seconds later, Brody Duncan and Nick Carruthers broke through the Panthers’ defence, with Carruthers scoring. Thompson set up Chase Alger 52 seconds later, who went glove-side on Panthers’ netminder Will Traynor. Lions tie the game 3-3. Late in the period, Kai Morrow set up Jordan Elliott for the game-winning-goal with 30.6 seconds remaining. The Lions came back to win 4-3.
Two days later, February 16th, the Lions travelled to Westport to take on the Leeds Chargers, which resulted in a 2-0 shut out win for the Lions. Carruthers and Elliott had a goal each in the game. Owen Conlin claimed the shut-out win in net.
The team then travelled to Kemptville for a rematch against the Panthers B1 team the following day, February 17th.
Playing a scoreless first period, the Panthers scored first, taking a 1-0 lead in the middle of the second period. The Panthers added one more with four seconds left in the frame, to hold a 2-0 lead as the teams headed into the third period.
South Dundas attempted another comeback in the third period. First affiliated player Grayson Casselman scored off a pass from Elliott midway with just under six minutes remaining. Then Carruthers scored a short-handed goal off with 2:58 remaining to tie the game 2-2. Kemptville’s Joshua Repple won the resulting face-off, breaking away to score the game winning goal with 2:51 remaining. The Lions fell to the Panthers 3-2.
The Lions remain at the top of the standings with a record of 20 wins, three losses, and four ties, for 44 points. The Panthers B1 team are in second place, also with 44 points, with the tie broken by lowest goals against.
South Dundas will take on the North Dundas Demons in their final regular game of the season February 23rd in Morrisburg, while Kemptville will take on the South Grenville Rangers on the same day.
The Lions have clinched a playoff berth but need a win to secure home-ice advantage for the playoffs.
