Fresh off scoring the tying and go-ahead goals in a late come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Peterborough Petes on Saturday night at Sadlon Arena, Kashawn Aitcheson walked into the Barrie Colts dressing room to cheers and a round of applause.
Sheepishly Aitcheson sat down at his stall with a huge grin. It was a much-needed celebration for a Colts team that came into the night riding a five-game losing streak and wrapping up a long week with a three-in-three weekend while still overcoming a cold virus that has ravaged the team.
Just minutes earlier, with his team down 3-2, Aitcheson blasted the equalizer to tie it with just 3:41 remaining and then hammered another one home with just 36 seconds remaining to give Barrie (34-18-2-2) the win and the single point they needed to clinch a playoff berth.
“We’ve been a shaky team of late and this just shows our work ethic and our heart because we’re never out of a game,” said Aitcheson, who now has five game-winning goals, tying him with London’s Sam Dickinson and Oshawa’s Luca Marrelli among OHL defencemen. “We’re so driven and so determined in every game.”
Down a goal heading to the final period, the Colts came out inspired and dominated play. They then appeared to get the equalizer when Anthony Romani’s high-rising drive hit the crossbar and bounced in and out, but after a lengthy review the initial call was overruled and the goal disallowed.
Minutes later Aitcheson would finally help Barrie draw even. Riley Patterson won a clean faceoff back to Beau Akey at the point who then teed it up for Aitcheson along the boards for a blast that flew over the left shoulder of Easton Rye into the top corner.
Then Cole Beaudoin, who was a force all game, won a battle for the puck behind the net and found Aitcheson creeping into the faceoff circle and the top NHL prospect wired one top shelf over the right shoulder of Rye.
It was his 20th of the season, good enough for third overall among blueliners.
“It’s a credit to my teammates for finding for me,” said Aitcheson of his flair for the dramatic. “Credit to my coaches for giving me that opportunity. I was just lucky enough for it to get by the goalie.”
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Aitcheson wasn’t done yet. The defenceman, who has logged a ton of minutes for a Colts team dealing with the loss of Tristan Bertucci (mono) and illness, wanted to finish what he started.
“After he scored that second goal with 35 seconds left, he just looked at the bench and said ‘I’m good. Keep me out here,’” said Colts’ general manager and head coach Marty Williamson of his star blueliner.
That’s Aitcheson, said Williamson. Always stepping up with big goals and big moments.
“The kid loves the spotlight, whether it’s a big hit or a goal,” he said. “He always wants to do something for the team.”
Beaudoin, who added a pair of assists, and Emil Hemming also scored for the Colts who moved to within four points of the Kingston Frontenacs atop the Eastern Conference standings and nine points ahead of the Brampton Steelheads for first in the Central Division.
“We haven’t played many games this year as a full team,” said Aitcheson. “Obviously, every game is important, every game is big and that one feels really good.”
Especially against a last-place Petes team that has been playing much better hockey of late and is desperately trying to claw their way into the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the same conference with North Bay and Ottawa.
Peterborough (16-34-2-5), which trails North Bay by nine points for eighth in the conference, led throughout the game in the back-and-forth battle and received goals from Caden Taylor, Gavin Bryant, and Brady Stonehouse.
“They’ve been playing teams that way, playing teams real tough,” Williamson said of Peterborough. “I watched them play that 4-3 (loss) with Brantford. They’re (Brantford) one of the hottest teams right now, so we knew it was going to be a challenge.
“When that goal got disallowed, I just thought (no). We played a good third period and we went at them the whole period, and finally Kash comes through,”
Aitcheson wasn’t the only one who stepped up in a big way on this night. Williamson thought Beaudoin, who raced up and down the ice all night, had an “unbelievable” game.
“He just will not quit,” the coach said of the Utah NHL prospect. “You just don’t find insights like that, and he drags guys along. He’s inspiring.”
Aitcheson also praised Beaudoin’s effort.
“I think he’s our top forward,” he added. “He’s the guy we look to. He puts the pressure on the D, he sets the tone every single game and those are just the kind of plays he makes.”
Patterson won two huge draws late in the game in the Peterborough end and Hemming continued his strong play since returning from the world junior tournament.
“Hemming, I thought, was just a force too,” said Williamson, who moved him to Beaudoin’s wing in a juggling of the forward lines with Owen Van Steensel suspended. “I might have found something with those two together now and try to build from there.”
Barrie threw everything it had left in the tank in the third period. They outshot the Petes 19-7 in the frame and 44-35 overall.
“We kept coming and we didn’t give up,” said Williamson.
The Colts will get a couple of days to catch their breath after the busy stretch. Their next contest comes on the road against the Guelph Storm on Wednesday night.
“It’s been a tough week,” said Williamson. “It hit us early in the week. The guys are getting a little better and this will make them feel better, but we need (Sunday off) and then probably an easier day on Monday and then ramp it up on Tuesday.”
Barrie will find itself shorthanded once again in Guelph. Dalyn Wakely, who was handed a match penalty for boarding early in the second period, will join Van Steensel on the suspended list.
As well, Jaiden Newton will miss time after going over the limit on fights, while Gabriel Eliasson will also have to sit out after exceeding the number of head checks allowed.
“It’s just one of those things, but the two points are big,” said Williamson.
Game time on Wednesday night at the Sleeman Centre is 6:37 p.m.
ICE CHIPS:
Aitcheson and Hemming also added an assist each. . . . The Colts have just 12 games remaining on the OHL schedule and are also three points behind both Kingston and Brantford in the conference standings. “We got to find a way to get 10 wins out of 12 and get first place,” said Williamson of the effort to clinch home ice throughout the conference playoffs. . . After going back and forth on starts in goal with Sam Hillebrandt, Ben Hrebik picked up a second-straight start and made 32 saves to pick up his 17th win in 27 games. . . Van Steensel will miss one more game and then return Thursday at home against Saginaw. . . Barrie was 2-for-5 with the man advantage, while the Petes went 1-for-4.
