The Bradford Midget A Bulldogs are one point away from elimination in the OMHA Semi-Final against the Orillia Terriers, after back-to-back-to-back games in the playdowns.
Game 1, rescheduled after heavy snow led to a cancellation, was a 2-2 tie after overtime, at the BWG Leisure Centre’s Blue rink on Feb. 29.
Games 2 and 3 were both played in Orillia, March 1 and 2.
Game 2 was a 3-0 loss to the Terriers, playing on their home ice, but Game 3 was a hard-fought, heart-breaking 2-1 loss in overtime.
After a scoreless first period, the Bulldogs were first on the scoreboard, on a goal by Noah Miranda with just under 11 minutes left in the second frame.
Bradford took their 1-0 lead into the third period, and held off the Terriers until the final minutes of regulation time, when Orillia pulled their goalie for the extra man advantage, and Braeden Downer scored a tying goal.
That sent the game into 10 minutes of sudden-death overtime. Once again, the Bulldogs and Terriers seemed evenly matched – until the Bulldogs ran out of steam, and Orillia’s Owen Buckland scored the game-winner with 3:09 left in OT.
Orillia now takes a 5-1 points lead in the semi-final series.
Game 4 will be back in Bradford, at the BWG Leisure Centre, 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 5. Come out and cheer on the Bulldogs in a critical game!
Game 5 is scheduled for March 6 back in Orillia; Game 6, in Bradford on March 8.
