The OJLL finals took a major turn on Sunday night when the Mimico Mountaineers won their first game of the series with a 10-9 overtime win over the Orangeville Northmen.
It’s hard to overstate how important the Overtime goal was. Had Orangeville won, the series would have been 3-0 and all but over. Now, with a chance to go home for game four, the Mountaineers once again have life.
Finn Thomson turned in a signature effort in this one, scoring 4 goals and adding 2 assists, while Lucas Dudemaine continued his massive finals series. He had 2 goals and 6 assists, but none bigger than the overtime winner.
For Orangeville, Trey Deere was the player of the game, scoring 3 goals and adding 2 assists. He was engaged physically throughout the game and made several key plays on loose balls and on the forecheck.
The series now shifts back to Mimico Arena on Tuesday night in front of what is guaranteed to be a raucous crowd.
Let’s get into a few keys from game three.
Dudemaine Stays Rolling
Now up to 10 goals in three OJLL finals games, Dudemaine is having one of the better finals series in recent memory.
Last year, Orangeville’s Koleton Marquis had 15 goals in the finals including 6 goals in a single contest. Braedon Saris of Burlington had 14 goals for the victorious Blaze.
Beyond that, Brock Haley had 9 goals in two games for the Whitby Warriors in the abbreviated 2022 finals. That was the best per game output since Austin Staats had 14 goals in just 3 games during the 2017 finals.
In other words, Dudemaine is approaching some pretty elite territory.
None of his 14 goals were bigger than the overtime winner in game three to extend the series and give Mimico life. Dudemaine had an ongoing battle with Dante Bowen throughout the game and got switched off of him before finding the back of the net for the game winner.
Trey Deere Finding the Net
Trey Deere has been very effective for the Northmen all playoff long, but for the first two rounds it was more in the assist department. In the final two rounds, Deere has not scored fewer than 5 points in a game. Now in the finals, he has back to back hat-tricks and 8 combined goals in the three games.
Last night was a signature game for Deere, scoring his three goals in the way that only he seems to be able to do.
The first was a beautiful behind the back fake into a great shot to the far corner.
Then he scored twice in the third. The first in a most Trey Deere way, by securing a loose ball in the corner, working his way through a maze of bodies, and scoring from an impossible angle.
Then he tied it up later for the Northmen on a fundamental cut and finish.
Along with Connor O’Toole, Deere has been the player of the series. He was incredible again in game three.
Best Predictor of Behaviour Is… Past Behaviour
In the second round against Peterborough, Finn Thomson scored 1 goal through the first two games. Then he exploded in game three for 4 goals and 4 assists. It was the same in the finals, where he had 1 goal in the first two contests, then broke out for another 4 goal performance in the third game.
None were bigger than the third period goal that restored Mimico’s lead. For all the plays that fans see of Finn scoring “fancy goals,” I think it gets lost just how big and athletic he is.
On the last goal, he took advantage of a favourable matchup and plenty of space, and got all the way to the goal.
In the playoffs, you need your best players to be the best players. Thomson and Dudemaine came through when they needed it most.
I’ll be back on the call Tuesday for the OJLL. You won’t want to miss that one.