Braves tie PJHL final with gutsy road win

Carson Bernhardt salutes the Tavistock Braves' fans after the team won Game 6 of the Schmalz Cup semi-finals against the Lakeshore Canadiens 7-1 to advance to the Schmalz Cup Final. Alec Richard photo

By Lee Griffi

If the first two games of the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) final series are any indication of what will happen moving forward, fans are in for a heck of a ride.

Tavistock skated into Fergus on Sunday afternoon and came away with a thrilling, 3-2 overtime victory after Yann Raskin buried a shot over the shoulder of Whalers’ goalie Noah Lundgren, a powerplay snipe that knocked the netminder’s water bottle off the top of the net. The goal came while Fergus’ Liam Eveleigh was in the box serving a four-minute spearing penalty.

“It’s huge. We didn’t have our best game, but good teams find a way, and we did, and we want to keep this going,” head coach Zac Berg said.

Berg added the team continues to get solid efforts from everyone on the ice.

“It’s really been the story of this playoff run. The consistency isn’t coming from the same one or two guys every night. It comes from the fact that anyone in the lineup can step up when the moment calls for it. That kind of balance is hard to defend against because opponents can’t key in on just one threat.”

Nicholas Hambly opened the scoring with a screenshot from the point that somehow made its way through four bodies in front of the net, with Tucker Otto and Nathan Siebert assisting. The only goal of the second period came from the Whalers before Tyler Brezynskie, with his first goal in eight games, gave the Braves a 2-1 lead on a feed from Keaton Bartlett at the 14:55 mark of the third period. League MVP Joey Martin tied it up three and a half minutes later to force the extra period.   

Martin appeared to run Braves’ goalie Blake Richard in his crease early in overtime, but no penalty was called. Despite Tavistock outshooting Fergus 39-23, Richard made several highlight saves to keep his team in the game.

“Richy has also been a rock for us back there. He has held us in all the playoffs and the first two games of the finals here. He is a gamer and answers the bell when called upon,” said Braves general manager Brent Lange.

He added Fergus is a very talented team, they have a lot of firepower and have also shown some pretty stellar goaltending so far.

“I believe our teams are very evenly matched, which is why it will be a great series. We have been next man up most of the year, and it works. The guys in that room are so close and all care for one another. It is a fun group to be part of, and we look forward to the next however many games we have to go yet here in the finals.”

Lange said the on-ice officials are letting both teams play, which has amped up the series. He added Raskin’s winning goal came as no surprise.

“When he is left open in the slot like that, it usually means good things for us. He is an amazing young man and a great talent with an unreal shot. We have a great group of young men that has a whole town and community supporting them.”

Berg said Raskin won’t miss very often when given a clear opportunity.

“He’s a guy who consistently comes through with big goals at big moments for us. The work he puts into his craft every day is as strong as anyone I’ve seen, and it’s no surprise it’s paying off this season. I’m really proud of the way he’s earned it.

The Whalers earned a 2-1 overtime victory in Game 1. Martin picked up a loose puck and fired it home behind Richard, his 14th of the playoffs. Fergus scored the game’s first goal just past the halfway mark of the first as Liam Eveleigh earned his ninth marker.

Nolan Miller tied the game at one with a wicked shot high over the glove of Fergus goalie Noah Lundgren just over one minute into the second frame. Miller is the son of former NHL linesman and Stratford native Steve Miller.

Bryzenskie had an opportunity to win the game in regulation with a partial breakaway but was thwarted by Lundgren, an Owen Sound native in his final season of junior hockey.

Martin was complimentary of the Braves after the game but also made a bold prediction.

“They are a really skilled team and very patient with the puck. They’re well coached with good systems, but I think with our speed and depth we should be able to handle them pretty easily.”

Game 3 in the series was back in Tavistock on Wednesday night, with games four and five set for Fergus with game times at 8:30 p.m. Friday and 3:30 p.m. Sunday.