Predators eliminated in shootout thriller in Virgil

The Niagara Predators 2023-2024 season came to an end in front of an appreciative home crowd with a 2-1 shootout loss to the Durham Roadrunners Friday night.

Despite being eliminated from the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League’s Russell Cup playoffs in two straight games, the Preds played their most complete, most confident game of the season against Durham.

“To lose in this fashion, it’s tough,” an emotional head coach Kevin Taylor said after the game. “Everything we’ve been asking them to do all year, they did it tonight. You can’t fault them. They made no mistakes tonight.”

Unfortunately for Niagara, their recent scoring woes continued. Despite their most potent offensive attack all season, only Luca Fernandez was able to solve Durham goaltender Leonid Putilov during regulation time.

After a hard-fought scoreless first period during which Niagara outshot Durham 13-8, the Roadrunners struck first 58 seconds into the second. Joshua Risk stole the puck at the Durham blueline, skated across centre toward the Niagara net, and fed a pass beyond Niagara defender Tyler DeCoff’s outstretched stick to teammate Jackson Kaplan near the goalpost. Kaplan tucked it in past goalie Zane Clausen to give the Roadrunners the lead.  

Just over three minutes later, the Preds’ Declan Fogarty chased down a loose puck in the Durham end and took a shot on Putilov. The goaltender kicked it away, but Fogarty picked it up and centred it to teammate Luca Fernandez, who unleashed a low wrist shot past Putilov to tie it up. 

Later in the second Clausen made what had to have been his most spectacular save of the season. Yenry Jibb skated in on Clausen’s left and the goaltender set himself for a shot from Jibb. But the forward passed it across the point to teammate Jaden Smith who one-timed it at the net. Somehow Clausen was able to stretch his 6’4” frame over to the other side in a split second to rob Smith of the go-ahead marker. 

Clausen continued his strong play throughout the third as Durham outshot the Preds 14-10 in the period. Despite continued pressure from the Preds on Putilov, the period ended scoreless and a five-minute three-on-three overtime followed.  

Both teams had chances in the extra frame but the two goalies continued their dominance, forcing the game into a shootout. 

Niagara’s second shooter, forward Reece Bisci, skated in on Putilov, faked a shot, then slipped the puck through the goalie’s legs and into the net for the first shootout goal. But Durham’s next shooter, Smith, deked around Clausen’s left side to tie it up. 

Clausen and Putilov continued to come up with big saves and the Predators hit the post twice,  until Brandon Ste. Croix, the Roadrunners’ ninth shooter, beat Clausen with a wrist shot. That left it up to the Preds’ Shane Kaplan to force a tenth shooter, but Putilov stopped him with his pad to seal the victory.

A few tears were flowing post-game from some of the players but especially from a few of their parents, who were loath to leave the arena and scrambling to take photos with some of the boys and their teammates. 

“I’m proud of how this team has finished off,” Taylor said. “They played with a lot of pride, and both games against Durham were exciting to watch. I guess if you don't win a championship this is a good way to end it.”

In an interview with The Local Saturday, an effusive team president and owner Robert Turnbull expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the fans, the rink staff, billet families, sponsors, the broadcast streaming team, and his coaching staff and their support staff for a great season. 

“You’re only as good as the people you have around you,” Turnbull said. 

Looking back on the season, Turnbull lamented the injuries to some key players, including Clausen, who missed almost two full months with a knee problem. 

“Overall, the guys really developed nicely,” Turnbull added. “Some of the guys brought their game up to a much higher level. I thought we should have won both of these games against Durham. It’s tough to lose a game that way. But can you imagine if they played this way all year long?”

The Predators announced their team award winners on Monday.

Team captain Logan Baillie was named the Predators’ Most Sportsmanlike Player and also won the Julena Marie Edwards Award, given to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game.  

Luca Fernandez captured the team’s scoring title and was named Most Valuable Player. Shane Kaplan also took two awards, one for Rookie of the Year and the other for the Best Defensive Forward. 

Rounding out the awards were Aidan Jones as Most Improved Player, Nicholas Savoie as Best Defenseman and Thomas McGrath, with the Best Teammate Award. 

Up next for Turnbull and Taylor are exit interviews with each of the players. Clausen, Bisci, Fogarty, DeCoff, and NOTL native Josh Frena, all 21-year-olds, have aged out of the league, while Turnbull hopes the rest of the team will be committing to another year with the Predators. 

“It was a great honour to play for the Predators in my hometown,” Frena said Monday. “Not a lot of people can say they played junior hockey in their hometown and I was very grateful for the opportunity. Every Friday home game was such a thrill, to be able to play on the rink I grew up on in front of my family and friends.” 

He continued, “I learned to always play hard and keep moving forward as there are great things ahead for those who put the work and effort in each day. From the bus rides to practices and games and team bonding after games and on weekends, I absolutely loved it.”