In an exciting OAA I match up between then fifth-place Birmingham Unified (2-9-2, 1-4-1 OAA I) and second place Rochester Stoney Creek (7-3-3, 4- 1-2 OAA I) last Saturday night, the two teams ended in a 3-3 draw according to the OAA. However, as state tournament records are concerned, Birmingham lost a close one, 4-3, in overtime, but this does not factor into their OAA record.
“We put in a good team effort,” said Seaholm junior forward Dan Bailey, “We don’t usually play hard for three full periods.”
And play hard for three periods they did. After junior Bennett Thomson won the opening face-off, Unified spent the majority of the first period near Stoney Creek’s goal, nearly missing many shots, while Stoney Creek took very few. For the final 1:23 of the first period, there was a 5-3 power play in favor of Birmingham, who capitalized on a Ryan Bertrand (Groves Junior Forward) goal with 41.6 seconds left in the period.
For much of the second period, defense was the name of the game, as both teams struggled to get good shots on goal. But after over ten minutes of play, Stoney Creek tied the game when Seaholm junior captain Matt McCarthy’s stick got loose and he was unable to trap the puck, allowing a Rochester goal with 4:56 remaining in the period. Then, with 3:05 remaining in the period, while on a 5-4 power play, Stoney Creek scored another goal to take the lead, 2-1. To end the period, Groves senior Josh Sternberg missed a quality shot with time expiring.
Just 20 seconds into the third period, Stoney Creek was on another 5-4 power play, and scored with 14:39 showing on the clock. But at a time when earlier in the season Birmingham may have given up, they came roaring back. At even strength, Thomson made a precision pass to McCarthy for a slap-shot goal to make the score 3-2, with 13:13 left in the game. After approximately two more minutes of game time, Birmingham struck again. With eleven minutes showing on the game clock, Sternberg whipped in a wrist-shot to tie the game. Both teams had a chance to take the lead, but strong goalie play resulted in the period ending in a tie.
In an 8 minute overtime period, Birmingham seemed to have control, until a 5-4 power play in favor of Rochester lead to the suddendeath goal with 4:00 on the clock.
The fact that the game officially ended in a tie was enough to excite Solomon.
“We’re turning around the season starting with this game. I thought everyone gave 100% today,” said Solomon.
Birmingham Unified’s next contest is scheduled for Thursday, January 22, at 6:00 at the Detroit Skating Club against Clarkston.
