Clinch comeback comes at crucial time

By Joel Wittnebel/The Oshawa Express

As a whole, the Oshawa Generals are one of the youngest teams in the OHL. However, they do have a few veterans and it was these players who shined during their recent three-game homestand that saw them secure a valuable four point out of a possible six.

The first game saw the Gens lose 5-4 to the Kingston Frontenacs on March 9, with the team haunted by former Oshawa Generals in captain Michael Dal Colle, who netted a pair of goals and an assist, and four assists from defender Stephen Desrocher.

However, things picked up two days later when Oshawa went on to topple North Bay 2-1, at the GM Centre, in overtime.

On March 13, in front of 6,000 fans, Oshawa overcame a 3-0 first period deficit to topple the rival Peteborough Petes in a shootout 4-3, with veteran Mitchell Vande Sompel leading the way with back-to-back goals in the second period.

“I think it’s a credit to our core guys that have played here in the past,” says head coach Bob Jones. “When you have guys in that room that have won championships before, they know what it takes to dig in.”

Along with Vande Sompel, Sam Harding, a fellow Memorial Cup hoister last season, added the third goal to tie the game in the third period.

Seasoned goaltender Justin Nichols, put in to replace starter Jeremy Brodeur after he allowed three goals on seven shots in the first period, went on to stop all 22 of the shots he faced.

“That’s another guy there who has a very good winning pedigree,” Jones said of his goaltender. “There was a calmness in the net when he got in there.”

It was Jalen Smereck with the deke on Petes’ goaltender Dylan Wells for the lone shootout marker that sealed the deal for Oshawa.

The victory was a crucial one after the Hamilton Bulldogs, only two points back of Oshawa for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, won their Sunday game against the Niagara IceDogs 4-1.

Vande Sompel’s multi-goal game was a rare occurrence for the defender, who also secured Oshawa’s OT winner against North Bay on Friday. He says he was looking to redeem himself after a bad first period.

“I wasn’t happy with my first period and I think I put the blame for a couple of those goals on myself,” he says. “I wanted to make it up for my team and I just tried to play the way I can, moving my feet and contributing offensively.”

He says the team’s momentum going into the third, along with a growing chemistry, helped in the comeback victory.

“It’s starting to feel like a family in there now,” he says. “Our chemistry has been growing all year and it’s starting to show.”

For Jones, the slow start is something his team has battled with all season.  With many contributing factors, it’s just something that needs to be brushed off when it happens in order to turn the game around, he says.

“It’s just something we have to get past and we can’t lose confidence if another team scores first. We kind of get on our heels and lose our mojo.”

Currently, the Generals sit with 60 points for eighth place in the conference, and a game in hand over the trailing Bulldogs.

Now in the final week of the regular season, Oshawa has three more chances to up their point total.

Starting tonight (March 16), Oshawa takes to the road for games agains the the Mississauga Steeleads followed by a rematch with the first-place Frontenacs on March 18.

Oshawa’ final game of the regular season is on home ice against the Ottawa 67s on March 20. Puck drop is set for 6:05 p.m.