The Parry Sound Brokerlink Midgets hosted the Huntsville Otters in their home opener on Friday night.
With the Parry Sound team at one win, a tie and a loss to start the season, Tanner Emerson got the start between the pipes as the puck dropped at 8:40 p.m. Parry Sound was missing four players as three were serving their last game of suspensions and one was out with an injury. Cam Johnson was called up to provide full lines for Brokerlink.
Parry Sound got off to a quick start as Sam McKernon found the mesh on a feed from Jared Orr. The crowd thought they were in for an Otter trouncing, but McKernon’s goal would be the only one of the first period.
In the second period the steady stream of the home team to the penalty box did nothing to improve their chances of scoring.
The only silver lining was the penalty killing displayed by Emerson and his teammates. However, the Otters managed to dribble one by at even strength to tie the game at one.
Following the flood, the Brokerlink team settled down to play more disciplined hockey. It was the Otter’s turn to inhabit the penalty box and give Parry Sound the opportunity to score some goals.
Midway through the third, the power play paid off. On the five-on-three, Collin Badger snapped the puck to his defensive partner, Tristan Berry, who fed Tyler Conn.
He wheeled about before netting his first of the game.
Seconds later, with a faceoff to the right of the Otter goaltender, Connor McDougall won the draw and slid it forward to winger Conn. He made a lovely deke and cashed in on the five-on-four power play for his second of the night, and to take the 3-1 lead with less than six minutes remaining.
Huntsville clawed back to 3-2 as they capitalized on a giveaway at the Brokerlink blue line.
One thing you can say about Midget hockey is it isn’t over until it’s over. As the crowd listened to the slow emphatic lyrics of “Na na na na. Hey, hey, hey, goodbye” in the last 30 seconds of the game, the Brokerlink boys let down their guard and the Otters scored with 20 seconds remaining to take away a well deserved win. Lesson learned.
The Brokerlink Midgets will be away the next two weekends at Owen Sound and Huntsville tournaments. The next home game is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 26, at 8:30 p.m.