CORNWALL ISLAND, ONT. – All season long, the Thousand Islands Privateers were known as a third period team. Thursday night, they proved the statement to be true.
The Privateers scored four unanswered goals during an eight minute span of the final period to erase a three-goal deficit and grab a 6-5 victory over the Akwesasne Warriors in game one of the FHL north division finals at the Anowarako:wa Arena. Ryan Pearson and Alex Goupil each scored two goals for the Privateers who will host game two of the best-of-five series Saturday night in Alexandria Bay, NY.
The Privateers came out in the first period pushing the pace of play and setting the tone by controlling the speed of the game. It paid off at the 10:40 mark when
Thousand Islands%27 Tyler Fernandez (left)had three points in the Privateers win Thursday night (PHN photo by Wendy Hull)
Akwesasne made a couple of adjustments and tied the game when team captain Patrick Deraspe converted a lateral pass from Luc Mazerolle with just under six minutes remaining in the stanza. Just over a minute later, Mazerolle got loose and snapped a sharp angle shot over the shoulder of Thousand Islands’ goalie Richard Sillery to put the host Warriors in front.
Despite having played and lost three times last weekend while Thousand Islands rested, Deraspe and his Warriors’ teammates were encouraged by their opening period of action.
“I think we’re ready and that’s what we showed in the first period,” he said.
Just as they had in the opening period, the Privateers had plenty of energy in their legs for much of the second stanza. The Warriors looked for their chances and made Thousand Islands pay when Mazerolle scored notched his second of the game at 3:50 to bump Akwesasne’s lead to two goals. Goupil, coming off of being named player/assistant coach, closed the gap at the 4:58 mark when he took a quick cross-ice pass from Fernandez and beat Warriors’ net minder David Plouffe.
As the Privateers piled up shot after shot on Plouffe, Akwesasne stayed patient and the plan worked to perfection. Miguel Delisle popped home the rebound of a Daniel Sauve shot at 9:30 followed by Martin Beaulne cashing in at 11:18 to extend the lead to 5-2 heading to the final period.
The Privateers needed a huge third period and as they have all season, they got it. The comeback began at the 4:43 mark when Pearson beat Plouffe to make it 5-3. Just four seconds later, Deraspe cross-checked the Privateers’ Harry Mahesh in the head, drawing blood and a
Akwesasne captain Pat Deraspe scored for the Warriors but it wasn%27t enough as they lost game one (PHN photo by Wendy Hull)
Less than a minute later, Goupil and Fernandez came up with the big play just as they had all season. Fernandez got the puck to Goupil who beat Plouffe for his second goal of the game to give the Privateers a lead they would not relinquish.
With just under eight minutes remaining, Akwesasne tried to open up the game but Thousand Islands had an answer every time. Even when the Warriors went on the power play with 4:48 remaining, the Privateers’ defense stiffened, holding the league’s best power play at bay. As the game came down to the final minute, Akwesasne pulled Plouffe but it was to no avail as the Privateers hung tough and came away with the victory, sending most of the 453 in attendance home unhappy.
After the game, Goupil said that he and his teammates will have to work hard every game if they are to win this series.
“We’ve got to come out and work hard every single game. We obviously saw that they have the ability to score goals,” Goupil said. “We were fortunate enough to come out and win tonight. We can’t really carry anything over because it will take an honest effort next game as well.”
Saturday’s game two at the Bonnie Castle Recreational Center is set for a 7 p.m. start.
Game Notes: Goupil, Fernandez and McAllister (three points each) and Pearson (two goals) accounted for all but two points on the night for the Privateers while Mazerolle (four points) Beaulne (three points) and Sauve (two assists) took care of the lion’s share of points for the Warriors…The win was the first for Thousand Islands against Plouffe in Akwesasne.
Contact the author at wendy.hull@prohockeynews.com
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