There was a dogfight at the BWG Leisure Centre on Saturday night – Game 2 of the York-Simcoe Midget A Championships, between the Bradford Bulldogs and the Orillia Terriers.
The Bulldogs took Game 1 on March 22, beating Orillia 4-3 on their home ice. On Saturday, the Terriers returned the favour, downing the Bulldogs 5-4 in Bradford.
The Terriers were first on the scoreboard, notching a goal less than 3 minutes into the first period.
After repeatedly trying to solve the Orillia goalie, Bradford finally tied it up with just over 3 minutes left on the clock – then took a 2-1 lead early in the Second period.
The lead was short-lived. The Terriers evened up the score, deking out the Bradford goalie with 11:23 remaining – then moving ahead, 3-2, on an unearned goal, when the Bulldog netminder fumbled and let the puck drop into the home net.
The Bradford Midgets made it 3-all with just over a minute left in the period – but a dogfight erupted in the Bradford end, leading to delays as the referees debated penalties, before the third period finally got underway.
It looked good for the Bulldogs when Bradford scored a fourth goal with just over 7 minutes left in the period. Then the wheels fell off the bus.
A Bradford penalty allowed the Terriers to tie on the power play, with 2:26 remaining – and Orillia scored again a minute later, to take a 5-4 lead. Bradford pulled their goalie for the extra man advantage, which they quickly lost when the referees handed the Bulldogs a pair of consecutive penalties.
The Midget A Championship series is now knotted at a game apiece. Game 3 takes place March 27 in West Orillia; Game 4 on March 28, 8 p.m. at Bradford’s Bob Fallis Sports Complex on 10 Sideroad.
The Midgets aren’t the only Bulldog Rep team battling in the York-Simcoe Playoffs. The Atom A Bulldogs are also facing off against their Orillia counterparts, in a series that Orillia currently leads, 2 games to 1.
The Terriers have won both games played at the West Orillia Rink, taking the first game 1-0, and game 3 on March 23 by a 4-3 score. The Bulldogs won Game 2 on home ice, 4-2. Game 4 will be played March 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the BWG Leisure Centre, with the Bulldogs facing elimination. Game 5 is in West Orillia, at 6:50 p.m. on March 29.
And the Bradford Novice A squad was tied in its series against the Barrie Colts, with a game apiece. Game 3 took place at the BWG Leisure Centre on March 24 – and although the Bulldogs fought hard and never gave up, they suffered a a 5-1 loss.
The Colts now lead the series 2 games to 1, with Game 4 scheduled for March 26 at the Molson Centre, at 7:10 p.m.
