Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
The second chapter of the new Ottawa Black Bears and Oshawa FireWolves rivalry was an instant classic. After Ottawa won the first matchup in Oshawa 16-14, the FireWolves came to the capital with revenge in mind. They launched an eight-goal run spanning the second and third quarters, led by Tye Kurtz (3G, 1A), and built a four-goal lead with just under five minutes to play in the fourth.
Doug Jamieson (14GA, 50SV) and the Oshawa defense had strong stretches throughout the night, even holding star Jeff Teat (1G, 4A) to just one goal. But the final minutes flipped everything. The Black Bears scored four goals in the final two minutes, tying the game with 13.5 seconds left. Reilly O’Connor (4G, 2A) made sure the rally wasn’t wasted, burying a bounce shot 1:55 into overtime to complete the extraordinary comeback. Final Score: Oshawa FireWolves – 13, Ottawa Black Bears – 14.
For such an explosive finish, the first quarter was nearly empty. Will Johansen (2G) opened the scoring just 2:05 in, firing an outside shot over a screen that bounced in five-hole. Kevin Brownell (1G, 1A) answered for Ottawa a minute and a half later, cutting down the slot during a slow change and finishing cleanly. That would be it for the quarter.
Oshawa killed off a penalty midway through the frame, and both defenses settled in. Jamieson stood firm on one end, while Zach Higgins (13GA, 36SV) matched him save for save. At the end of one, the teams were tied 1-1.
Jackson Nishimura (1G, 1A) sparked the second quarter in transition. After battling for a loose ball off a missed shot, he absorbed a heavy hit and still found the net. Ottawa responded immediately. Callum Jones (1G) scored in transition after the Black Bears won the faceoff, and Teat followed with his lone goal of the night, squeezing a short-side shot home while falling into the crease. Nicholas Volkov (1G, 1A) extended the lead to two with a breakaway finish, and Ottawa had its first real momentum of the night.
Then the game turned. After 8:42 without a goal, Dyson Williams (1G, 4A) buried a long-range snipe with 5:10 remaining. It was the first of eight straight for Oshawa. Kurtz scored twice around another Johansen goal in the final three and a half minutes of the half. In a matter of moments, a two-goal Ottawa lead became a two-goal Oshawa advantage. At halftime, the FireWolves led 6-4.
Ethan Walker (1G, 2A) extended the run early in the third with a sharp finish on a crisp cut — his 12th goal of the season.
The goals came more methodically in the third. Alex Simmons (3G, 1A) added two, first with a brute-force drive to the cage and crease-jump finish, then with a long overhand shot that bounced off Higgins and in. Kurtz added another with 4:36 remaining, dancing to the crease before finishing.
O’Connor finally stopped the bleeding for Ottawa with 1:27 left in the quarter, converting on a five-on-three opportunity with a shot over Jamieson’s shoulder. But through three quarters, the damage was significant. At the end of the third, Oshawa led 10-5.
Sam Firth (2G) opened the fourth by dodging into space and finishing after a reset. Simmons answered quickly with another crease jump after Oshawa won the ensuing faceoff, keeping Ottawa at arm’s length.
O’Connor scored again, bulling through two defenders to the crease, and suddenly the game tightened. Just over three minutes later, Rob Hellyer (2G, 4A) ripped a shot that hit the crossbar, spun to the goal line, and bounced away. After a lengthy review initiated by Ottawa, the goal was awarded. The Black Bears trailed by three.
Dawson Theede (1G, 1A) restored the cushion moments later, finishing calmly from the middle. Jake Stevens (1G) responded immediately, taking the faceoff straight to the net and getting a fortunate bounce off the bar.
Tensions escalated with 4:58 remaining after rough play along the floor. Oshawa earned a power play and needed just 24 seconds for Taggert Clark (1G, 1A) to score against his former team. Ottawa challenged again, but the goal stood. Oshawa led by four with 4:34 remaining. It should have been over.
With two minutes left, Ottawa pulled Higgins for the extra attacker. Firth quick-sticked a cross-crease pass from Connor Kearnan (1G, 4A) with 1:50 remaining. After Oshawa burned 30 seconds, Hellyer struck again off crisp ball movement with the extra attacker on the floor. With 53.7 seconds left, Ottawa trailed by two and the building reignited.
Ottawa won the faceoff. Without a timeout due to the earlier failed challenge, they set up. O’Connor fired short side low for his hat trick. The Black Bears won the next faceoff again and quickly reset. With 13.5 seconds left, Kearnan quick-sticked home the equalizer. Just like that, it was 13-13 and the fourth quarter ended.
Momentum belonged to Ottawa entering overtime. They won the opening draw but came up empty. Oshawa followed with a possession of its own but could not capitalize. Finally, O’Connor ended it.
Catching a pass from Teat while cutting toward the crease, he drifted toward the goal line and fired a bounce shot that found the net — completing one of the most dramatic comebacks in franchise history. Final Score: Oshawa FireWolves – 13, Ottawa Black Bears – 14.