The Strathcona Toyota Midget Tyees continued their quest for an island Midget title.
After a very successful start to the playoffs last weekend, the boys were hoping to build on those games.
The Nanaimo Clippers made the trip north to the Brindy to provide the opposition.
The Clippers are a tough team to play, as they work very hard and play a strong defensive game. The Tyees would need to compete for every inch of free ice.
The largest crowd of the season was treated to a spirited start. Both teams were skating hard and trying to play the body at every opportunity.
Tyee goalie Dominic Bellefleur got the call in the Tyee net and was sharp when he was called upon.
The Clippers’ end of the ice was significantly more chewed up as the home team controlled the territorial play, they had a number of grade A chances but were unable to solve the Nanaimo keeper.
At the three-minute mark of the second period, the fans in attendance were treated to the goal of the year.
Sage Lim gained the blueline on the left wing and sent a bullet pass to Owen Boyd beside the net on the right wing. Boyd delayed with the puck as the crowd was yelling “shoot” and with great poise, he slid the puck back to the left side and found a wide-open Lukas Lund, whose wicked shot went in off the crossbar. It was 1-0 for the good guys.
As the game entered the third frame, the Tyees continued to cling to the one-goal lead and carried the majority of the play.
One of the spectators was overheard saying “the longer this game stays close, the more Nanaimo is energized.”
Those words could not be more prophetic, as the Tyees just missed on a great opportunity at one end and the Clippers broke in at the other and after a fortunate bounce, they were able to tap it in to tie the game.
The Tyees fought hard and created some great chances, but the Nanaimo goalie was on his game and was able preserve the tie for his team.
The boys still have a good chance to secure the No. 1 seed for the crossover game versus the South Island, as we take our show on the road next weekend and head to Powell River for a date with the Kings.
