Pickering Panthers go to 3-0 at Centennial Cup with overtime win over Quebec champs
Published May 23, 2022 at 8:13 am
The Pickering Panthers are poised for the playoffs at the Centennial Cup national Junior ‘A’ championships after a thrilling 3-2 overtime win Sunday night over the second-seeded College du Francais Longueuil in Estevan, Saskatchewan.
The win, courtesy of a breakaway top shelf snipe 48 seconds into the extra frame by Ian Martin, pushed the Panthers record to a spotless 3-0 heading into Tuesday’s clash with the 2-0 and top ranked Brooks Bandits.
The win guaranteed Pickering a desirable draw in Friday’s quarter-finals but with first place in the group already in their hands and a 23-11 goal differential, the Panthers are hoping for another victory against the Alberta champions and defending (from 2019) Centennial Cup title holders and a perfect record heading into the playoffs.
Pickering had to work hard Sunday, coming back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits before Jacob Partridge scored the tying goal in the third period, setting up Martin’s overtime heroics.
Alex Papaspyropoulos had the other Pickering goal.
Pickering went to 2-0 in the tournament Saturday with a huge come-from-behind 10-5 win over the host Estevan Bruins. Pickering trailed by two in the third in this one before Ethan Doyle – with his first of two – and Dustin Hutton – with his second of three – squared things up.
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Pickering then put it away with five straight goals to double up the hosts.
Martin, Lucas Littlejohn, Patridge and Brett Henderson scored the other Pickering goals. Hutton, Partridge and Martin are 1-2-3 in tournament scoring.
Game time Tuesday from Affinity Place in Estevan is 2 p.m. EST.
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