Schoenmakers Leads Majors to 4-3 OT Win

Published on November 11, 2011 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors News Release


Thanks to Derek Schoenmakers, the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors had themselves a memorable Remembrance Day game Friday night at the Hershey Centre.

Schoenmakers fired his second goal of the game at 3:09 of overtime to lift the Majors to a thrilling 4-3 win over the Barrie Colts before 3,560 fans in Ontario Hockey League play, after a stirring 20-minute ceremony to honour Canada's military before the game.

The teams traded goals back and forth all night before Schoenmakers drilled a shot past Barrie goalie Mathias Niederberger to send the home town fans away happy.

Mississauga General Manager/Coach James Boyd was also pretty happy after the game.

"Winning a game in overtime is just huge, especially when you look at how tight the standings are," Boyd said. "I thought we did a good job stifling their very potent attack for most of the game and we got rewarded for our efforts.

"As much as you talk about building confidence and doing things the right way, winning games is the best reward and the best confidence booster, and the points are so important."

The Majors three times took one goal leads in the game, but the Colts answered back every time before Mississauga finally closed out the game in the extra period.

"It was a real battle but we managed to pull it out on a pretty special night," Boyd said. "The ceremonies before the game were really terrific and it was wonderful to see such a great tribute. It also gives you some perspective."

Fans gave Allan Brock a standing ovation when he was introduced during a second period time out. Mr. Brock is a distinguished Canadian war veteran and the 87-year-old grandfather of Majors captain Stuart Percy.

Mississauga improved to 11-5-1-2 with the win, keeping their hold on first place in the Central Division standings. Barrie slipped to 8-7-2-1 with the loss, but stayed in third place in the division with the single point.

Riley Brace added a goal and an assist and David Corrente scored the other goal for the Majors. JP Anderson made 30 saves in goal for the Majors, who snapped a three-game winless streak - and a five game winless streak on home ice - with the victory.

Mark Scheifele continued his strong play since returning from the Winnipeg Jets with a pair of goals for the Colts. Tanner Pearson added a goal and an assist while Niederberger made 23 saves as Barrie out-shot the Majors 33-27.

Schoenmakers opened the scoring at 7:27 of the opening period but Scheifele tied the game just 31 seconds later. Brace then scored his 11th of the season on a power play at 18:32, putting the Majors up 2-1 after 20 minutes.

Scheifele then tied the game at 7:32 of the second period, the lone marker of the middle frame, before the Majors again went in front on Corrente's third goal of the season at 6:48 of the third period.

Perason yet again tied the game less than two minutes later, however, and that was all the scoring until Schoenmakers' overtime dramatics.

Mississauga is in Owen Sound on Saturday night before hosting highly touted Nail Yakupov and the red-hot Sarnia Sting at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Hershey Centre, with their special Remembrance Day jerseys to be auctioned off starting Monday - check www.stmichaelsmajors.com for details.

Tickets for all home games are available at www.ticketmaster.ca or at the Hershey Centre box office during regular business hours.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 11, 2011


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