Blaymires' Overtime Heroics Lift NorthStars Past Merchants 13-12 in Semifinal Thriller

By Gary Groob 

The Brooklin Merchants traveled west to face the Owen Sound NorthStars in game one of the Ontario Series Lacrosse semifinals Sunday afternoon at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Arena in Owen Sound, Ontario. 


The goaltending match-up had Calum Leaver-Preyra in net for the NorthStars facing Thomas Kiazyk in net for the Merchants. 

The Ontario Series Lacrosse semifinals opened with a classic Sunday afternoon as the Owen Sound NorthStars erased multiple deficits before Michael Blaymires buried the overtime winner to secure a dramatic 13-12 victory over the Brooklin Merchants at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Arena. Brooklin appeared poised to take Game One after building a 5-3 first-period lead behind a natural hat-trick from Carson Christie, while Jack Oldman dominated the faceoff circle and finished with three goals. Owen Sound, however, answered every challenge, with Cohen Jennings scoring three times and Dawson McKenzie adding a pair of crucial second-half markers to keep the NorthStars within striking distance

The see-saw battle featured six ties and numerous lead changes, with neither team able to gain lasting control. Every time Brooklin found the go-ahead goal, Owen Sound had an answer, including Andrew Kelly's transition marker and McKenzie's late equalizer to force overtime. After both clubs traded scoring opportunities in the extra frame, Blaymires ended the contest at 2:56 on a penalty shot to give the NorthStars a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five semifinal series. The teams now shift to Whitby for Game Two on Tuesday evening at 8:00 p.m.

To The Game:

The NorthStars got off to a good start with Jordan Caskenette converting a Brayden Krueger pass at 1:42, followed by Jake McNabb with a blast off a Caskenette feed at 4:54.

Landon Sinfield cut the lead in half with a laser off a Carson Christie pass at 6:24, followed by Christie himself on the power-play with a sidearm snipe off a Lucas Littlejohn pass to tie the game at 8:27.

Jack Oldman gave Brooklin their first lead of the day with a shot from in close off a Littlejohn pass at 11:03, followed by Carson Christie's second of the day on the power-play with a blast off an Adam Perroni feed at 12:19.  Carson Christie then scored his third of the period with a low to low bounced shot off a Landon Sinfield feed at 16:09.

Owen Sound got back in gear with a blast from Dawson Brown off a Mason Kreller pass at 19:11.

After one period, Brooklin 5 Owen Sound 3.
Shots on goal favored the Merchants 14-13.

Second Period:

Owen Sound got rolling early with Cohen Jennings converting a Michael Blaymires pass at 53 seconds, followed by Riley Thompson tying the game once again with a sidearm snipe off a Jake McNabb feed at 1:16.

The Merchants regained the lead immediately with Jack Oldman winning the draw and finding Elijah Edwards in transition 9 seconds later, but the NorthStars would bounce back with a pair of tallies.

Dawson McKenzie scored off a Carter Moran pass at 6:35 on the power-play, followed by Cohen Jennings with a sidearm snipe off a Jake Doolittle pass at 8:53, to again take the lead.

Cole Tucker responded for Brooklin with a shot from the top of the crease off a Lucas Littlejohn pass at 9:12, but Michael Blaymires restored the Owen Sound lead with a laser from the outside off a Dawson McKenzie pass at 15:46.

Again off a Jack Oldman faceoff win Brooklin stormed back with Max Macpherson scoring just 9 seconds later.

After two periods, Brooklin 8 Owen Sound 8.
Shots on goal favored the Merchants 13-12.

Third Period:

Brooklin took the lead early in the third with Ryan Langille converting a Zac Carrigan pass from the top of the crease at 3:04, but Riley Thompson's power-play marker knotted the game again in this see-saw affair at 7:39.

Jack Oldman's magic on the faceoff dot continued with a give and go with Owen Wills 8 seconds later, but again Cohen Jennings was there to tie the game with an outside blast off a Jake McNabb pass at 10:45.

Zac Carrigan put the Merchants in front with a beautiful move in front off a Ryan Langille pass at 12:05, but Andrew Kelly answered in transition off a Wyatt Barfoot pass at 13:09.

Jack Oldman scored his third of the game with a shot from in tight off a Ryan Langille pass at 16:21, but again the NorthStars stormed back with Dawson McKenzie striking off a Cohen Jennings feed at 18:10.

After regulation, Owen Sound 12 Brooklin 12.
Shots on goal favored the NorthStars 13-11.

Overtime:

In the extra period, both teams had a chance to end the game, but on a penalty shot, Michael Blaymires gave Owen Sound the victory  at 2:56.

Final score, Owen Sound 13 Brooklin 12.
Shots on goal favored the NorthStars 2-1, for a game total of 40-39 in favor of Owen Sound. 

The Three Stars:

1. Michael Blaymires 
2. Jack Oldman 
3. Cohen Jennings 

Owen Sound leads the best of five series 1-0, with game two Tuesday evening at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre.   Game Time is 8 pm.