LAURIE WEIR
With their season on the line, the Smiths Falls Jr. A Bears clawed their way into a Game 7 showdown, by edging the Rockland Nationals 4–3 in overtime Sunday at the Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre, in front of nearly 500 fans.
The Sunday afternoon win forces the deciding seventh game of this semi final matchup.
Jackson Heron played the hero in extra time, burying the game-winner at 11:04 of the first OT on a setup from defenceman Kyle James. The goal capped a gutsy, bend-don’t-break performance from the Bears, who were outshot 43–25 but made the most of their chances — and their goaltender.
Ethan Morrow stood tall once again, turning away 40 shots and earning first-star honours. He was especially sharp during a scoreless third and into overtime, giving his squad a fighting chance despite being held shotless in the final frame of regulation.
Tyson Parker opened the scoring for Smiths Falls just five minutes in, but Rockland responded with a pair in the second, including a blast from Josh O’Connor — his first of the playoffs. The teams traded tallies in a heated, penalty-filled middle frame before Quinn Booth restored the Bears’ lead late on a power play.
Anthony Hall, who scored twice for Rockland, knotted the game at three with less than two minutes left in regulation, setting the stage for Heron’s OT heroics.
The penalty boxes were busy in this one, with a second-period scrum resulting in over a dozen combined minutes for roughing alone. Smiths Falls capitalized on their lone man advantage, while Rockland went 0-for-4.
The series is now tied 3–3, and all eyes turn to Game 7 on Wednesday in Rockland, where one team will lift the Bogart Cup. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
