Thunder ground Jets in WOSHL quarter-finals
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Tillsonburg Thunder have advanced in playoff play.
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The Thunder defeated Strathroy Jets 3-1 at the Kinsmen Memorial Arena March 7 to take a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-five WOSHL quarter-finals.
In Strathroy Friday night, the Jets scored four consecutive goals to take a 4-2 lead. Thunder’s Jake Brown scored with nine minutes left, but Strathroy held on for a 4-3 victory.
The Jets outshot Tillsonburg 49-48 Sunday afternoon in Strathroy, but the Thunder dominated on the scoreboard winning 7-1 to clinch the series 3-1.
Tuesday’s game was a tight one, said Thunder coach Trevor Rosborough, who felt Tillsonburg had an advantage in quality scoring chances.
“I think Strathroy’s adrenaline, in their home barn, will be to our advantage,” said Rosborough ahead of back-to-back games in Strathroy. “I keep saying to our guys, we need to have composure, and we need to have an adversity response… that might have to kick in from a missed or bad call, or we’re visitors playing in a high-energy barn. It might even be a bad call on my part as coach. I think with our composure, we will be able to capitalize coming into their barn.”
Strathroy outshot Tillsonburg 14-10 in the first period of the 3-1 win, but Thunder goalie Matt Sagrott ‘shut the door.’
“Sags (Sagrott) is lights out,” said Rosborough, noting the Thunder goalie stopped Brandon Buck, a former in the German DEL, Switzerland, Austria, the AHL and ECHL, three times ‘point-blank’ in a 5-4 OT win in Game 1 of the series on March 4.
“He (Sagrott) is outstanding.”
It was Thunder captain Mike Rebry who opened scoring at 3:36 in Game 2, assisted by Todd Ratchford, who scored nine minutes later short-handed, assisted by Jamie MacQueen and Mitch Green, to give Tillsonburg a 2-0 lead.
“The first one, he (Rebry) kind of picked the guy’s pocket at the top of the circle, and a quick release,” said Rosborough.
Strathroy’s Justin McIntyre scored with 3:07 left in the second, assisted by Kobe Ferreira.
Rebry regained Tillsonburg’s two-goal lead midway through the third period, roofing a shot from the high slot into the top left corner.
“Guys are coming from so many different places in Ontario, and getting them unified, you can feel the energy building,” said Rosborough. “That’s the unique part of our team. It’s hard to do, but once you do that it’s a stronger energy. It’s really cool.”
A former Thunder player (2015-2022) who was playing in Alvinston this season, Rosborough is a native of Strathroy and said he was very familiar with the Jets’ roster.
“I played with all those guys,” Rosborough smiled, “and we want to win bad.”
Rosborough took over as Tillsonburg’s head coach in mid-February.
“It was an opportunity to be part of what I think is an elite team. I know a lot of the guys – I played with them – so I know what they are capable of and I know whether I’m getting 100 per cent from them or not. It’s an opportunity to motivate guys at this level.”
Fourth-place Tillsonburg will meet first-place Tilbury in the WOSHL semifinals. The series opens Saturday, March 18, 7:30 p.m. in Tillsonburg. Game 2 and Game 3 are in Tilbury March 19 and March 25. Game 4 is back in Tillsonburg Sunday, March 26 at 4:30 p.m.
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