Yates Goal Takes Wolves to Finals in Longest Game in Federal Hockey League History
April 14, 2018 - Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
Watertown Wolves News Release
After a heart-pounding come-from-behind victory in North Carolina Friday night Head Coach Trevor Karasiewicz and the Watertown Wolves looked to finish off the Carolina Thunderbirds in the first round of the Federal Hockey League playoffs at the Watertown Municipal Arena last night. After trailing four goals to none, the Wolves rallied to respond with four unanswered goals of their own to tie up Friday night's game and send it into overtime where they scored their fifth goal for the win.
Tyler Gjurich drew first blood for the Wolves on assists from Aleh Shypitsyn and John Scully at the 9:30 mark. Tommy Tsicos tied it up for the Thunderbirds at the seven-minute mark. The Wolves were not able to take advantage of the power play from Jay Kenney's slashing penalty and the tie would hold for the rest of the first period.
The lone goal of the second period came from Carolina's Joe Cangelosi who hid the puck so well in the net it wasn't found until after the play was blown dead. The Wolves successfully killed Gavin Yates's high sticking penalty and Kyle Powell's cross-checking penalty but were unable to capitalize on Richard O'Connor from Carolina's penalty.
Cameron Dimmitt showed off some shooting skills when he made a power play goal from a seated position to tie the game up for Watertown with just five minutes left in the period on assists from Nicola Levesque and Tyler Gjurich. The scored remained the same for the rest of the period sending the game into overtime.
After a physical and scoreless overtime the game went to double overtime making it the longest game in Federal Hockey League history. Gavin Yates took a deflected shot from Nicola Levesque who got the puck from Cameron Dimmitt to tickle twine and win the game. The Wolves clinched a spot in the Commissioner's Cup Finals for the second time in the team's history with the victory.
Gavin Yates's game-winning goal earned him the first star of the game. Tyler Gjurich's goal credited him the second star of the game. The third was awarded to Cameron Dimmitt for his one goal and one assist.
The Wolves will travel to Port Huron Michigan to take on the Prowlers April 20th and 21st. They will then return to Watertown on April 27th with an additional game on April 28th if needed.
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Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from April 14, 2018
- Prowlers Keep Rolling, Knock Out Defending Champs - Port Huron Prowlers
- Thunderbirds Eliminated from the Playoffs in the Longest Game in FHL History - Carolina Thunderbirds
- Yates Goal Takes Wolves to Finals in Longest Game in Federal Hockey League History - Watertown Wolves
- Prowlers take Game One in Overtime - Port Huron Prowlers
- Yates Hat-Trick Gives Wolves Dramatic Overtime Victory - Carolina Thunderbirds
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