Coaches almost come to blows after 67’s heartbreaking OT loss

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FRONTENACS 3, 67’S 2 (OT)

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A phenomenal day for OHL scoreboard watching become a near-riot within the hallway at TD Place on Sunday afternoon.

Moments after former Ottawa 67’s winger Tuomas Uronen scored with 2.8 seconds left in extra time to provide the Kingston Frontenacs a dramatic 3-2 victory over his outdated squad, the 2 coaches — Dave Cameron and Troy Mann — needed to be held again by on-ice and workforce officers as they screamed bloody homicide and tried to get at one another.

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So incensed was Mann that he delivered a low blow earlier than being ushered into the dressing room.

“Good (bleeping) job on the world juniors, Cameron,” he shouted.

Sparking the incident was the Frontenacs’ objective celebration, which started with Uronen coasting half the size of the ice holding his finger to his lips in a “shhh” to the 6,262 followers in attendance.

Because the Frontenacs poured on the ice to mob Uronen, 67’s defenceman Matthew Mayich stood nearer than Mann felt was obligatory and he expressed that opinion.

Cameron noticed this and went ballistic.

“I take exception to grownup coaches yelling at gamers,” Cameron instructed Postmedia. “That’s all I’m going to say.”

Mann provided extra of a proof.

“From my perspective, I used to be coming off the ice and guys had been celebrating, Tuomas in all probability just a little too laborious as a result of he performed right here final yr and received traded,” started the second-year Frontenacs bench boss. “Mayich was simply type of standing round, and I stated, ‘Are you able to simply go, go away the fellows alone?’ Like, why is he standing 10 ft from our workforce? I’m allowed, as a head coach, to inform these guys, ‘Go see your individual guys.’ He began chirping me, and that was it. I got here off.

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“I used to be in my workplace, and I don’t know if Cameron thought he heard one thing or somebody stated one thing that wasn’t stated, however then he got here after me. So I got here again out to make it enjoyable for a few minutes anyway,” Mann added with a chuckle. “He’s clearly upset that there was no hooking name on us on the finish of the sport and I might have stated there ought to have been a penalty known as (on the 67’s) earlier than the game-winner. I assumed the refs known as a reasonably even recreation. There was in all probability extra that would have been known as on either side, fairly frankly, however I assumed, total, for what was at stake for each groups, the refs had been superb.”

Aside from the very fact they’ve each been fired by the Ottawa Senators, Cameron and Mann don’t have a lot of a historical past.

“He’s a Maritimer, identical to myself,” stated Mann, a local of Campbellton, N.B. “We’re feisty. He in all probability desires to go have a beer later.”

Probably not.

The end result was extra damaging to the 67’s than useful to the Frontenacs.

Whereas incomes a single level in opposition to one of many league’s high groups was a plus for the 67’s, getting two for a win would have been larger.

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As a substitute, they’re in the identical place as they had been at first of the day — two factors behind the North Bay Battalion within the race for the ultimate Japanese Convention playoff spot — however now with each groups having simply three video games left on the schedule.

Because the mud was settling in Ottawa, the Battalion rallied to tie the Barrie Colts on a objective with 40 seconds left within the third earlier than they too fell in extra time.

The Colts, who’ve already clinched first within the Central Division, are tied with the Frontenacs for second spot within the Japanese Convention, each groups three factors behind the Brantford Bulldogs however with Kingston holding a recreation in hand on Barrie.

“Ottawa’s in should win and we’re in should win … simply completely different circumstances,” stated Mann. “This was a tough recreation at the moment. Guys had been emotionally invested, at occasions.”

The 67’s, who dropped an enormous recreation in North Bay final Sunday, had been blown out 7-1 in Kingston on Wednesday.

However they responded properly of their closing two residence video games of the season by upsetting the Oshawa Generals 3-2 on Friday earlier than selecting up the purpose on Sunday because of a one-timer by defenceman Frankie Marrelli with 33 seconds remaining within the second interval and the regular goaltending of Collin MacKenzie, who confronted 31 photographs whereas Kingston’s Charlie Schenkel was examined 24 occasions.

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Marrelli, who fibbed when he stated he didn’t hear something concerning the “commotion” within the hallway, stated there was a “tremendous intense” playoff-type ambiance throughout the recreation.

“I assumed we had an important recreation at the moment,” he stated. “We’d have preferred to have received, however issues occur, and we’ve received three extra video games to play, so we’re simply wanting ahead to that.”

Whereas each groups face opponents which have already clinched a playoff spot down the stretch, North Bay has a neater remaining schedule.

The Battalion are residence to Oshawa on Thursday, play in Niagara on Friday and shut out the season again in North Bay on Sunday.

The 67’s are on the highway for his or her final three — in Niagara on Thursday, Erie on Saturday and Brantford on Sunday.

“We positively want a win in these video games, and hopefully we get all three,” stated Marelli. “We’ve received one thing to play for proper now. We wish to knock (North Bay) out. We wish to be within the playoffs. So each recreation is thrilling, and we’re enjoying our greatest.”

Cameron was happy with what he noticed from his workforce Sunday.

“You lose, and it’s heartbreaking, clearly, however total we’re doing quite a lot of actual good issues,” he stated. “If we deliver that effort and dedication the following three video games, you’ll relaxation straightforward.”

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