Diering’s route to the Dorchester net results in ‘good OT thing’

Gemini Viktor Henkin managed to get a shot off despite going down to the ice, against the defensive attention of Dorchester’s Ryan Lehoillier. (Jeff Tribe photo)

Jeff Tribe, Post Correspondent

Keegan Diering went to the net.

And as hockey coaches have suggested since time immemorial, a good thing happened.

“Just saw Viktor (Henkin) shoot the puck (from the left point) and saw it out front,” recalled the Tillsonburg Gemini boys’ hockey forward. “Put it to my backhand and put it in.”

Diering’s ‘good thing’ lifted the Gemini into a 3-2 Thames Valley Regional Athletics Southeast semi-final victory over the visiting Lord Dorchester Beavers Tuesday, Feb. 24 inside Tillsonburg’s Memorial Arena, giving them a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three semi-final.

Its dramatic effect was only enhanced by the fact Tillsonburg had killed off a double minor penalty for kneeing assessed with 1:55 remaining in regulation time, and the home team enjoying a narrow 2-1 advantage. Dorchester pulled goalie Connor White for a six-on-four advantage in skaters, captain Ryan Lehouillier knotting the game at two with 32.9 seconds left in regulation. One half of the double-minor remained, finishing out a tense final 30-plus seconds of regulation time, and carrying over into OT.

“Just trying to get in lanes, block shots and try not let them get to the net,” said Gemini Clarke Lessif of the team’s penalty-killing gameplan.

Overtime opened, as in any civilized hockey universe, as a five-on-five skater event although the Gemini a man short, the Beavers unable to score through the balance of their second power play. The game-winning play began innocently enough, a harmless-looking shot from the left point which provided a juicy, and ultimately decisive, rebound. Diering’s goal ignited a celebration amongst a solid crowd of Gemini supporters, on hand for the early-afternoon contest.

“Kept ‘em in it right to the end, that’s for sure,” smiled Gemini coach Derek Partlo.

Tillsonburg’s Liam Nunn had opened scoring at the 7:56 mark of the second period, assisted by Noa Black. Dorchester’s Emerson Monk countered 32 seconds into the third frame, Black and Nunn adding helpers as David Lamers restored the one-goal Gemini lead with 8:23 left in regulation time.

“Found a way,” said Partlo, who felt his team’s effort had been consistent throughout. He was not unhappy with the late penalty kill, feeling the goal had been a bit ‘fluky’ off a stick. The Gemini killed off the second minor in overtime, enjoying a territorial advantage as the extra period went on, said Partlo.

“And a big finish on the OT winner by Keegan.”

The series was far from over with one victory.

“Still going to be a battle,” said Lessif.

“But the first one is nice,” added defenceman Hunter Whittington.

The Beavers eliminated the Gemini from playoffs last year said Lessif, hoping to return the favour this season.

“Sucks that we lost, but we have another chance at it.”

The Gemini finished the job Thursday on the road in Dorchester, skating away with an 8-4 series-clinching victory.

“Probably the best game we’ve played all year,” credited Partlo, speaking to moving the puck well, skating on the big ice and making good on their chances. “We got up early and held on.”

Tillsonburg came out of the first period up 4-0 said Partlo, extended its lead to six goals midway through the second. The Beavers closed to gap to 6-2 by the end of the frame and got as close to 6-4, before the Gemini rounded a four-goal victory with a pair of empty-netters. Lamers had a hat-trick for the winners with Nunn, Drew Hunter, Black, Lessif and Ritch Heleniak adding singles.

“It was a big win,” said Partlo, of a series victory that also brought with it a Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association (WOSSAA) A/AA berth.

The Gemini will face St. Thomas Parkside in the TVRA Southeast championship game, Wednesday, March 4 in St. Thomas’s Joe Thornton Arena, beginning with an 11:15 a.m. faceoff. Beyond the title, a win there would be helpful for WOSSAA seeding said Partlo, although that is the team’s primary goal at this point.

The team has played up to and beyond expectations this season he concluded, pleased with the development of its younger players.

“They have stepped up and are complimenting the older guys.”

Girls’ curling

The Gemini girls curling team ran out of rocks and ends, not the willingness to compete through an 11-9 TVRA Southeast semi-final loss to the St. Thomas Parkside Stampeders Wednesday, Feb. 25 at the Ingersoll District Curling Club.

“I’m fine with losing as long as we play our game,” said skip Lucie Panschow.

“Left it on the ice,” added vice Keona Cornish.

Tillsonburg got down early, trailing 10-2 after four ends. But the Gemini scored three in the fifth and stole two in both the sixth and seventh ends to give themselves a chance.

“Which is a crazy comeback,” said Cornish.

In the eight and final end, Tillsonburg was sitting three, with the potential for a dramatic comeback, when the Parkside skip executed a takeout with her final stone, counting one to lock up the victory.

“They still managed to sneak theirs in,” said Panschow.

There was no rancour in terms of their opponents, Parkside being ‘super nice and personable,’ in the words of Gemini second Kyle Thiessen.

It was simply that, after years of curling together, the adventure was coming to an end for the three graduation veterans.

“It kind of hit, this is our last game,” said Panschow.

Coach Shelby Colldock was equally said the see the end of a Gemini curling era.

“But really proud of how they did,” she concluded.