Alright, let’s talk turkey here! The Barrie Colts, wouldn’t ya know it, find themselves starin’ down the barrel of a Game 7. They had a chance to close things out in Kingston, up in the series, but let it slip away faster than a greased pig at a county fair. A real nail-biting game 6 overtime loss, the kind that sticks in your craw. Now it’s back to Barrie, winner takes all. This ain’t just another game, folks, this is for all the marbles in this round!
So, what happened down there in Kingston on Sunday? The Colts dropped a tough one, 3-2 in overtime. That Gage Heyes fella for the Frontenacs, he was the hero for them, potting the winner just 2:53 into the extra period. Not only that, but he helped set up both their goals in regulation, scored by Jacob Battaglia. A real thorn in the Colts’ side, that kid. For our Barrie boys, Emil Hemming and Tristan Bertucci found the back of the net, but it just wasn’t enough in the end. You gotta bury your chances when you get ’em, especially on the road in the playoffs!
The game went back and forth, but Kingston seemed to have the edge, outshooting Barrie 37-29. They tied it up early in the third period on a power play – yeah, back-to-back power plays, that’ll kill ya every time! Discipline, kids, discipline! You can’t be sittin’ in the box in the third period of a close-out game. That’s just givin’ the other guys life. And they took it, pushing the game to overtime where anything can happen.
Now, here’s the kicker, the real tough break for the Colts. Their goalie, Sam Hillebrandt, the kid who’s been standin’ on his head, he got hurt! Took a heavy collision with that same Heyes character and didn’t come back out for the second period. That’s a tough pill to swallow. Young Ben Hrebik came in and did his job, but losing your number one goalie right before a Game 7? That’s what we call adversity, folks. Hillebrandt and Hrebik combined for 34 saves, but that Kingston goalie, Charlie Schenkel, he seems to have found his groove after a bit of a shaky start. He made 27 saves and looked solid.
So, where does that leave us? It all comes down to Tuesday night, right here in Barrie. Puck drop is just after 7 p.m. This is the definition of a must-win game. You lose, you go home. You win, you move on to face the Oshawa Generals in the Eastern Conference final. The Generals, they took care of business against Brantford, so they’re sittin’ pretty, waitin’ for the winner. The Colts need some serious Game 7 motivation. They gotta dig deep, find that extra gear, and use that home ice advantage. The fans need to be loud, make that building shake! It’s time for Barrie Colts redemption. Forget that tough overtime loss, learn from it, and come out flyin’. It’s do or die time in the OHL Playoffs!
This is what playoff hockey is all about! High stakes, big pressure, and heroes waiting to be made. Can the Colts overcome the injury, shake off the Game 6 disappointment, and defend their home turf? We’ll find out Tuesday night. It’s gonna be a barn burner, you can bet on that!
References:
Colts lose in OT in Kingston to set up Game 7 showdown on Tuesday in Barrie
