The Huntsville Otters finally got the monkey off their backs. They defeated the Alliston Hornets 5-4 at the Don Lough arena Friday night. It was the first time the team has beaten the Hornets in club history.
Otter fans also got their first look at the latest member of the Otters, A.J. Campbell and they went away pretty impressed. Campbell led the team with three goals. It was his fifth game playing for Huntsville but first on home ice.
It was 2-0 after the first period and 3-1 after 40 minutes.
The Otters came out firing on all cylinders outshooting Alliston 18-12 in the first 20 minutes.
Joseph Tabet got things started with a shorthanded goal midway through the period, and Campbell got the first of his three goals just over two minutes later. Campbell’s other two goals came in the third period, both on the power play. George Wood notched the other Otter goal.
Goaltender Mitchell Jones made several big saves as the Hornets came close on several occasions and threatened to tie the game.
“It feels pretty good,” said an emotional manager coach Brent Tomlinson moments after the final buzzer had sounded. “Mark and I won a championship last year but this is pretty darn close to that excitement level for this club to beat this team. It is a statement game that the Otters are real this year.”
Tomlinson orchestrated the deal that brought A.J. Campbell to the Otters about two weeks ago. Friday night’s game was his fifth with the team but first on home ice.
“A.J.’s been an incredible addition and he’s been a player we’ve had an eye on for awhile. We are very excited we were able to get him,” said Tomlinson.
Coach Marc Gagnon said it took a lot of hard work and time by Tomlinson to make the deal happen. “I talk to him it seems ten hours a day,” he said, “more than my wife but he is constantly working and working on trying to make this team better.”
Campbell was hesitant to talk about his three goals and would only say it was a team effort. He is playing on a line with team leading scorer Nathan Delarosbil and Cole Gilligan.
“It’s good to get back home,” Campbell admitted, “I’m really enjoying my time here so far. It’s good for the team to finally get some wins and the boys are really starting to roll, three lines going right off the bat, good defense and good goaltending right off the start, a good team effort that resulted in two points tonight.”
Playing with Gilligan was not a learning curve for Campbell as they played together in Timmins. “It’s pretty cool that we both came from the Timmins Rock and ended up here,” Campbell said. “It’s quite a co-incidence and its good that we are starting to get some chemistry. I grew up with a lot of the kids on this team and have some great friendships and am enjoying my time here and having a lot of fun.”
The Otters will have less than 48 hours to savour the victory as they go up against Penetang Sunday afternoon at 2:30, in Huntsville.
Both coaches expect the momentum and satisfaction of their win over Alliston to carry into that home game. “It will be huge,” said Gagnon. “The dressing room right now is at an all time high for us this year and it’s going to carry over into Sunday’s game and future games.”
The win was only the Otters third of the season but it came against the Hornets who have won 12 of their first 14 games.
Tomlinson said the club has one more spot to fill and he is working hard to find the right player who will help make the Otters even stronger.
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