Thunder edge Milverton 3-2 in OT shoot-out

Thunder’s Andrew Oosterveld uses a Milverton defender to take a screened shot. (Chris Abbott Photo)

Michael Holly, Post Contributor

The Tillsonburg Thunder and the Milverton Four Wheel Drives are battling to avoid the 8-versus-9 playoff series and advance directly to the playoffs in February. This sets up Saturday night’s game to be a December clash that has early playoff implications.

It did not start out well for the Thunder, with Milverton getting one in the first, and a second in the second period taking a 2 – 0 lead into the third period. As it was Teddy Bear Toss night, the crowd all had their bears ready to fly, but no cause to do so. The minor hockey team girls, that have been patiently - actually not so patiently - awaiting their chance to hit the ice to round up the bears were on edge.

With only 5:08 left in the game, everything changed. Danny Attridge got his fifth of the season, from Kurtis Heggie and Braden Robert, and s allowed the Teddies to fly. And there was much rejoicing. A total of 171 teddy bears were launched onto the ice and this gave our bit-crusty minor hockey girls the release they were waiting for. All the teddies were donated to the Salvation Army to be included in the Christmas hampers that are given out next weekend. This is the 18th year of the Tillsonburg Thunder Teddy Bear Toss. The Salvation Army and the Tillsonburg Thunder thank you all.

Back to the game, as the action picked up from there. Before the teddy bear counting was done, Mike Findlay notched his first of the season from Attridge and Sebastian Guastadigsegni to tie the score. Five minutes of 3-on-3 overtime did not settle anything, which led to a shootout. Andrew Oosterveld shot first, and launched a rocket into the blocker side bar down. Thunder netminder Ben Blacker saved the first shot, and Braden Roberts lost the handle on the next Thunder shot. Milverton then rang the post. New Thunder player Hunter Monkhouse sealed the deal with a cheeky deek to the tender’s stick side securing a Thunder 3-2 overtime win.

The Thunder have only one more game in 2025 versus the Elora Rocks on Dec. 20 at Tillsonburg arena. Puck drop is at 7:30. Elora and Tillsonburg have a long rivalry, so it is shaping up to be a climatic clash.

Many fans pick up Thunder tickets for Christmas stocking stuffers. The tickets are good for any Thunder home game. There are three left in the season.