KEATON ZAVITZ THE HERO FOR ST CATHARINES ATHLETICS IN O.T. THRILLER IN BRAMPTON

Keaton Zavitz scores the overtime winner for the St Catharines Athletics, spoiling Brampton Excelsiors home opener (PHOTO: OJLL/B McCullough)

Two nights after losing their home opener to the Toronto Beaches 13-6, the St Catharines Athletics needed overtime to beat the Excelsiors in Brampton Friday night. After scoring six goals in the third period to take a late lead, and Caiden Merritt forcing the extra period with five seconds to play in regulation, a missed pass bounced to Keaton Zavitz who found himself alone in front of the crease. His hard fake opened the top corner where he buried the 13-12 winner with just 49 seconds left in overtime.

St Catharines opened the first with back-to-back goals. Josh Ford scored his first with the Athletics followed by Trent Mooradian. The run was broken up by Nolan Marshall’s first of three first period goals, a period which ended tied 4-4.

Still tied, now 5-5 midway through the second, the Excelsiors bookmarked power play goals from Marcelo Carreiro around a 4-1 stretch in just over five minutes. Brampton carried a 9-6 lead into the final regulation frame.

After stretching the lead to 10-6 on Merritt’s first of the season, and first in Brampton, the Athletics stormed back with four straight goals, including two on the man advantage to tie the game. Merritt’s second of the game and period was a sidearm shot past a defender one minute later. With two and a half minutes to play a great individual effort from Zavitz found the back of the net, followed 33 seconds later by Jameson Bucktooth scoring from beyond the restraining line in an attempt to beat the shot clock. The Athletics led for the first time since the first period.

With 30 seconds to play, Brampton coach Pat O’Toole called time out. An early Brampton shot found the stick of A’s starting goalie Oliver Vanyo who launched a try at the empty net just wide. Brampton pushed the ball back into the offensive zone for a quick outside shot from Merritt who scored his third of the game with just five seconds to play, forcing overtime.

Both Markus Madill and Vanyo were exceptional in the extra frame with both teams killing off penalties in overtime. The game seemed destined for a tie until Zavitz recovered the ball in the slot area and shot over the shoulder of Madill for the 13-12 win.

Keaton Zavitz led the way for the Athletics offensively with eight points (3/5). Right behind was Trent Mooradian (3/4) and Jameson Bucktooth (3/2). Oliver Vanyo stopped 53 of 65 shots faced.

Nolan Marshall matched the A’s captain to lead Brampton with eight points (3/5). In his Brampton debut Caiden Merritt had six (3/3) as did Marcelo Carreiro (2/4). Markus Madill stopped 48 of 61 shots.

The game was broadcast live on the OJLL YouTube channel, and is available for On Demand viewing.