The Haliburton County Huskies head into the Christmas break on a high after polishing off five wins in six games in December to re-establish themselves as contenders in the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s tough eastern conference.
The blue and white were dominant on the ice, if not the scorecard, in a 3-2 come-frombehind win over the North York Rangers in Minden Dec. 16. Goals from Charlie Fink, captain Patrick Saini, and Jack Staniland earned the team its fifth-straight win at S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena.
It was a bright start for the Huskies, who showed their ability to control the puck in the early goings. Fink thought he’d given his team a deserved lead four minutes in, his shot looping over Amir Valiullin in the Rangers net, only for the officials to wave it off – with the frame coming off its spikes.
The Huskies were busy throughout the first, firing off 24 shots.
They maintained that pressure heading into the second. Saini spurned a great opportunity four minutes in, going eye-toeye with Valiullin but seeing his shot saved. The Huskies were relentless as they sought an opener – they registered 12 shots on the man advantage five minutes in after Saini was tripped but couldn’t find a way past the impressive Valiullin.
They were hit with a sucker punch at 17:02 – Jacob Strizzi scoring on a breakaway on only the Rangers’ fourth shot of the period.
It looked like being a day to forget for the Huskies when, six minutes into the final frame, Cian Noble doubled the visitors’ lead, scoring just one second after a Lucas Vacca cross-checking penalty had lapsed.
There was a roar from the crowd as the game restarted, with chants of ‘let’s go Huskies’ reverberating around the arena. The home side used that energy to keep pushing and finally got their reward – Fink lifting the puck over Valiullin’s pad on the rebound at 8:31 after Izayah Luddington and Antonio Cerqua had been denied.
Saini sniped the leveller at 12:21, assisted by Lucas Stevenson and Lucas Vacca, sparking mass celebrations on the ice.
Huskies netminder Brett Fullerton made a huge save a minute later, robbing Hudson Weger in close to keep the scores level.
With the home side pushing, Saini drew another penalty – high sticking from former teammate Josh Rumolo. The Huskies were patient, recycling the puck while searching for an opening. Defenceman Jack Staniland was the hero at 18:48 – taking control of the biscuit at the blueline, he walked along the wall, saw he had some space and ripped one on net. Valiullin got something on it, but not enough to keep it out, with the puck trickling over the line to the delight of the crowd.
Staniland earned first star honours for his late contribution. Speaking to The Highlander after the game, he said he feels the win could be a huge turning point in the Huskies season.
“I think the performances have been there, but you’ve got to turn that into results. I think we’ve done a good job of that heading into the break,” Staniland said. “We’ve found some lines that are connecting now, some guys are playing really well with one another, and it’s helping us move forward.”
Loss on the road
A tight game in Markham Dec. 17 saw the Huskies on the wrong side of a 3-1 decision.
Despite outshooting their hosts eight to four in the opening frame, the Huskies found themselves behind after the first buzzer – Ashton Miwa scoring just five minutes in. Shane Bondy made it a two-goal game 10:16 into the second.
Nicholas Lamont gave the Huskies some hope with his 12th of the season 11:54 into the third. The blue and white dominated during the final frame, firing 12 shots to the Royals’ six, but couldn’t find the equalizer. Bondy scored his second, an empty netter, with nine seconds left on the clock.
The Huskies sit in 7th place with 38 points from 34 games – 18 wins, 14 losses and two ties. They have two more games left in 2023 – home tilts with the Toronto Patriots Dec. 29 (7 p.m. puck drop) and Wellington Dukes Dec. 31 (2 p.m. puck drop).
