Last weekend, the Otters played Schomberg in back to back games beginning on Thursday, November 16 in Schomberg. The Otters dominated the game to pull ahead with a 6-2 lead, but then the Schomberg players found the back of the net twice more. It wasn’t enough to steal the win as the Otters maintained their two goal lead to the end of the game for a 6-4 win.
On Friday, November 17, Schomberg travelled to Huntsville for game two. When the game began, the fans could see each team’s determination to shoot, defend and outplay the other. Schomberg pulled ahead by two goals in the first period but the Otters were not going to let them keep the lead. With controlled passes and defensive plays, the second period was owned by Huntsville with four goals put in net; Cole Gilligan #16 earned a hat trick and zero pucks passed by Otters goalie Mitchell Jones #31. Game infractions got the better of both teams with Schomberg serving 48 minutes and Huntsville serving 34 minutes.
Above: It was one-two-three for Otter #16 Cole Gilligan who scored a hat trick against Schomberg on November 17
In the third period, the intensity grew and Schomberg was able to use the power play to their advantage, dumping in the puck to close the gap on the score board to 4-3. The Otters were on their feet fighting for their second win but Schomberg pushed hard and tied up the game halfway through the final period. Fans were cheering as they felt the pressure to keep the win out of Schomberg’s sticks. After playing over seven minutes of nonstop defense and offense, the buzzer stopped the game. During a seven-minute, three-on-three overtime period, both teams held off their opponents and the game ended with a tie. Good hustle, Otters!
“We had a solid weekend with a home and away series versus Schomberg picking up three of a possible four points,” said GM and Coach Brent Tomlinson.
The Junior C Otters have seen significant transactions over the last week. The team had a couple of departures with AJ Campbell, “a home grown product”, who was reacquired by the Timmins Rock. “AJ came to the Otters and found his rhythm playing big minutes for our club. We are extremely happy to see him back at the Junior A level,” said Tomlinson. Also departing the Otters is Dryden Rivet who has returned to minor hockey with the Timmins Triple A program. Good luck to both players from the Otters Nation!
With these departures, Tomlinson has been busy recruiting. Within the first two months of his new position as General Manager, Tomlinson has acquired goaltender Ty Sparling #30 from Kirkland Lake, Cole Gilligan #16 from Timmins, and AJ Campbell #25 (now with Timmins).
“Our GM has done a great job in obtaining high-quality players that will be instrumental in the rest of our season,” said Co-Coach Marc Gagnon.
More recently, Tomlinson acquired defenseman Bo Peltier #3 and forward Tyler Gervais-Rolfe #17 from the Brantford 99ers in a trade last week. Both Rolfe and Peltier bring three years of Junior A experience along with a Championship win. “Brent and I had the privilege to work with the two,” said Gagnon.
“Both Marc and myself are very familiar with the players as we spent two seasons coaching them while we were all with the Powassan Voodoos Jr A program including our championship last year,” added Tomlinson.
The newest team player added to the Otters roster as of Tuesday, November 21, is Forward Alex Brisson from the Timmins Rock. Alex Brisson, who is 20 years old, is a three-year veteran of the NOJHL and was a 40-point player last season. Tomlinson said, “I’ve seen Brisson play a lot over the last few seasons against us and it’s nice to have him on this side of bench.”
Brent (Tomlinson) has put the time in as the new GM and his hard work has paid off. He certainly makes coaching a lot easier with his acquisitions.
Marc Gagnon, Otters co-coach
The Otters full lineup is expected to play in their next home game on Friday, November 24 against Caledon. The puck drops at 8 p.m.
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