Impressive Road Win for BLC in Oakville

By Mark Stehlin

Last night was the first meeting between BLC and the Oakville Rock of this 12-game 2024 regular season. Their second meeting will take place on Wednesday, but back to the game.

Brady Kearnan kicked it off for the visitors as he reeled off two goals in the first two and a half minutes. Oakville found their groove and registered three straight to take a 3-2 lead into the first break.

The second period also belonged to Oakville on the scoreboard by a margin of 6-5 for the 9-7 lead after two periods. The middle frame featured three separate occasions when the Rock scored followed by a quick response from their guests. So, despite some miscues, BLC was very much in this contest.

BLC took control in the third and worked as a group to regain the lead that they held early on in the game. Oakville did extend their lead to 10-7 to start the third, but BLC led by Dawson Theede with his second and third of the night went on to the 13-11 win. Theede's third with 2:05 to play proved to be the winner as it gave BLC a 12-11 lead and Austin Shanks sealed the deal with an empty net goal for the all-important two points that gets BLC closer to locking up second overall (Brooklin is four points back of Six Nations but have only one game remaining).

This year's playoffs sees the first place team receive a bye; the other six teams will engage in a best three-of-five opening round where 2nd and 7th, 3rd and 6th and 4th and 5th will meet up. The semi-finals and finals will follow and both are scheduled as traditional best four-of- seven series.

- photo by Mark Stehlin

Head coach Joel Johnson said "we've been coming out fast and hungry and I like that from the guys".

He did note a bit of a lull in the middle frame saying "there were some short possessions both ways, it turned into a bit of a track meet at times out there." He added, "there were a couple of errors made and we need to clean that up because at this level it's about inches and seconds and teams will capitalize, the same way we did when they had some breakdowns".

He liked the effort in the third period saying "we are such a different team when we are going after a team with speed and effort compared to when we are back on our heels and teams are coming at us."

"This team is building towards something bigger and better and the saying 'skill and will' is something that we preach to the guys." He added, "we know that good teams will keep pushing even when they may be tired or things aren't going their way and I felt we were that type of team to take the win tonight."

- photo by Mark Stehlin

Dawson Theede was named player of the game by his coaches, with three goals for the second time in a week, and a solid effort on offense, and using his big frame to make a difference.

Scoring for Brooklin - Shanks (3,3) Keenan (1,1) Theede (3,4) Watkinson (0,1) Raposo (0,1) Hickey (0,1) J Robinson (0,1) Westley (1,1) C Kearnan (1,4) B Kearnan (2,0) Knight (2,1)

Next up for Brooklin is Oakville at home on Wednesday night at 8 pm to wrap up Brooklin's regular season.

Reminder to join BLC and the Merchants at Brock St Brewing Co on Thursday at 7 pm and their joint golf tournament on Monday July 22 at Wolf Run Golf Club, check out the club's social media pages for all the details.