Pickett is the Hero!
Submitted By volunteer on Friday, December 04, 2009
On Wednesday night the Canadian Tire Atom Reps played host
to the Goderich Sailors. The Atoms were coming off back-to-back losses
including a 5-1 lose to Goderich just a week earlier. The lone goal scorer from
those two games was rookie Tori Hodgins.
What unfolded on this night, however, was one of the best
finishes this hockey dad has ever scene. Early in the first Rhys Vollmer opened
the scoring after the Atoms applied sustained pressure deep inside the Sailors
blue-line. Assists went to Jake Colley and Bradley Pickett. Goderich wasted no
time, however and scored two quick goals. On both goals the Goderich forwards
went in on break-aways after getting behind the Kinucks defense.
Goderich added a third goal at the start of the third period
and it appeared as though the Atoms were heading for another loss. A quick goal
by Danny Skinner made it 3-2 and the Kinucks were back in the game. Skinner
took the puck from his own end and after losing it into the Goderich corner,
took a sharp angled shot from behind the net and banked it off the unsuspecting
Sailor goalie.
The Kinucks kept pressuring the Sailors and with one minute
left pulled goalie Jamie Brock in favour of a sixth skater. The Sailors stole
the puck and fired it down the ice, with 10 seconds left Skinner rounded behind
his own net and passed it over to Bryce McFadden. McFadden banged the puck off
the boards and away to Pickett. Pickett had the defense beat, the crowd was
eyeing Pickett and the clock just when a Sailor defensemen dove across and
slashed Pickett on the leg. He fell trying to get the shot off but missed just
as the buzzer went to end the game. The home crowd was gutted; just when they
thought things were over, Pickett was awarded a penalty shot. (Video evidence would
later reveal that the right call was made despite the Sailor’s coaching staff
disagreeing!)
With the score 3-2 and no time left on the clock, Pickett
started with puck at centre ice. (Think Rob Lowe from the film Youngblood – circa 1986.) Pickett moved the
goalie left, came across with the puck to his forehand and fired a wrist shot
glove side to the back of net. With arms stretched way into the sky he was
mugged by his teammates - the crowd provided the well-deserved standing
ovation.
