The North York Rangers were unable to hold off the St. Michael’s Buzzers in their season opener, falling 5-4 in overtime at the Herbert H. Carnegie Centre on Sunday (September 9th) afternoon.
The Rangers came out with speed early in the first period. Cole O’Hara found defencemen Dante Fantauzzi at the top of the circle and the defencemen went high blocker to open the scoring. 16-year-old O’Hara recorded his first career OJHL point in his first career game. The Rangers were at it again two and a half minutes later. Ashton Stockie one timed the Nick Leshuk pass to put North York up 2-0. The Buzzers cut the score in half before the break, thanks to Colton Trumblo’s with 16 seconds left.
The Rangers regained the two-goal lead in the second. Off a black shot from the point, Adam Panacci spotted the loose puck and fired in his first OJHL goal six and a half minutes into the period.
St. Michaels’ top line carried the team back. After four cracks at a rebound, Cameron Searles scored at 14:24 and Jonah Alexander followed it up three and a half minutes later. After 40 minutes the score was tied at three a piece.
On the Buzzers sixth powerplay chance of the game, Trumbla potted his second goal of the contest on the powerplay for St. Michaels first lead at 13:09 in the third period. The Rangers responded quickly a minute later. O’Hara made a couple moves before hitting Panacci in the slot, and he ripped his second of the game low glove side to even things up at fours. The two squads needed overtime to decide a winner.
Only 46 seconds into the extra frame, Buzzers defencemen Spencer Smith came down the right side and went top corner on Jett Alexender for the winner.
Tyler Flack registered a career-high three assists in the contest, while Adam Panacci and Cole O’Hara each finished with two points. Alexander made 25 saves in the loss.
