Clarke’s highlight reel goal headlines massive 6-1 win for 67’s
Photo | Valerie Wutti/Blitzen Photography/Ottawa 67’s
From start to finish, the Ottawa 67’s owned the ice at the Arena at TD Place. Sasha Chmelevski’s had four assists, while Austen Keating and Tye Felhaber had two goals each in a 6-1 rout of the Peterborough Petes.
The 67’s continue to close the gap on opposing teams in the OHL’s eastern conference – with the victory, they vault past the Petes for sole possession of seventh seed.
It began early and often, with the 67’s dominating the shot clock early in the first period. They took a 20-5 advantage into the first intermission, but found themselves in a tie game 1-1.
That didn’t last long, as Austen Keating put the home side up by a goal at 11:41 of the second. A quick cross-crease pass on a 2-on-0 was buried for Keating’s 19th marker of the season.
Then, a 67’s rookie used a veteran’s move to extend the lead.
Graeme Clarke had time and space behind the net and used it to scoop the puck onto his blade, depositing it on the short side lacrosse-style. The highlight reel goal will surely draw some attention – Clarke has previously pulled it off in minor hockey.
More importantly for the Barber Poles, it gave them some insurance. Then the floodgates opened up.
Travis Barron and Felhaber both got on the board before the period’s end – at 18:28 and 19:58 respectively.
Felhaber added his second later in the contest, putting an exclamation point on a statement victory for the 67’s.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Head coach André Tourigny
On the blowout win… “It was a really solid effort. Sixty minutes of hard work, structure, focus – I’m very happy with the way the guys prepared themselves, and the way they played today.”
On Clarke’s goal… “(Matthew) Strome did that to us this year in Hamilton, but the game was out of hand already. You can do it when it’s 5-1, but Graeme’s was at a key time. It gave us a big breather.”
Forward Graeme Clarke
“You don’t get the opportunity to pull that off very often – you need a lot of time and space. But tonight I got that chance and it was really cool to be able to get it done today.”
GAME NOTES
- The 67’s took four of a possible six points away from the three home games at The Arena at TD Place.
- Over the course of those three games, Ottawa scored 15 goals, including six against both Peterborough and Mississauga.
- 67’s F Graeme Clarke’s late second period goal snapped an 11-game goalless streak for the rookie forward.
- 67’s F Sasha Chmelevski had four assists – a season-high for points. His previous season-high was set on October 28, when he registered a hat trick in a game against the Saginaw Spirit.
67’s single-game tickets start at $12 and are available at Ottawa67s.com/Single-Game-Tickets, by calling 613.232.6767 or in person at The Box Office at TD Place. All minor hockey players part of the 67’s Prospect Program get in for FREE. For more information on the 67’s Prospect Program click here.
