Gemini boys’ hockey team upset by Dorchester in TVRA South East semi

Gemini captain Rilan Swain sticks with his own rebound, eventually getting the puck past Dorchester goalie Caleb Cordell. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Post Correspondent

A result the Tillsonburg Gemini boys’ hockey team did want may have been the result of the Lord Dorchester Beavers wanting it more.

“Bottom line, I thought they just wanted it more than us, played harder and deserved to win,” said coach Gemini Derek Partlo following a 6-3 Thames Valley Regional Athletics South East best-of-three semi-final series opener loss Monday, February 24 at Tillsonburg’s Memorial Arena.

“That was a good test,” Partlo continued. “To be honest, we haven’t been ready for it.”

The Gemini’s 9-0 regular season record included 41 goals for and 8 against, an indication of how easily Tillsonburg cruised through the campaign, essentially without major challenge.

“And today, it hurt us.”

The visitors took a 2-0 lead out of the first period on goals by Cam Muzylolosky and Ryan Lehouillier, going ahead 3-0 with 4:37 remaining in the second, on an unassisted marker from captain Ryan Johnson.

Tillsonburg’s Keeghan Diering got the Gemini on the board off a strong rush down the right wing, cutting to the net and getting the puck past Dorchester goalie Caleb Cordell with 2:50 remaining in the frame. Jordan Parsons pulled Tillsonburg within a goal 28 seconds prior to the end of the period, on an assist to Rilan Swain.

Swain drove down the right wing, was initially denied, but stuck with the play. Gaining possession of the puck behind the Beavers goal Swain centred to Parsons, who ‘did the McDavid’ on Cordell, with a scoring shot high to the glove side.

Tillsonburg was unable to carry the momentum into the third however, Dorchester carrying the play after the between-periods flood. Emerson Monk restored a two-goal lead for the visitors 66 seconds in. The two-goal advantage stood until the Beavers capitalized on a turnover with 3:34 remaining.

What stood as Tillsonburg’s last glimmer of hope came with 2:24 to go, Swain driving the Dorchester net on an assist to Parsons, refusing to be denied on his own point-blank rebound. However, Lehouillier’s second of the game, into an empty net, rounded the 6-3 final.

“They wanted it more, came out hard and got a couple of quick ones,” Parsons summed up following the contest. The Gemini had battled back he said, but Dorchester kept on coming.

“And their goalie shut the door.”

Game two of the best-of-three semi-final was scheduled for the following day, in Dorchester, with game three, if necessary, back in Tillsonburg the day after.

“Just gotta come back stronger, go in their barn and bring it back home,” said Diering.

“We’ve got to bring our game next game,” agreed Parsons. “Show them what we’re made of.”

“Work harder, stay within yourself, don’t try to do too much yourself and good things will happen,” said coach Partlo, adding the Gemini had been a little too much on the periphery during Monday’s loss. “This is playoff hockey, get in there and get some rebounds.”

Unfortunately for the Gemini, Dorchester was able to carry the momentum from its game one victory into the following day, upsetting Tillsonburg in two straight games, the second by a 10-5 margin. St. Thomas Parkside defeated St. Thomas St. Joe’s 3-2 the same day, backing up an opening 3-1 win. Both Dorchester and Parkside advanced to WOSSAA A/AA playdowns in Woodstock.

“In a short series you have to play your best,” Partlo concluded, noting at times, the Beavers seemed to want it more, the Gemini not able to match their level of effort. “Basically, it was just the wrong time of year to not play our best hockey.”