Nathan Pancel ended the suffering with one blistering shot. The Sudbury Wolves had not won on home ice since the first game of the season back on Sept. 26.
The Wolves had lost seven straight home games coming into Saturday’s game against the Belleville Bulls, a team which earned honourable mention status earlier in the week in the CHL Top 10 rankings. Some of those losses were ugly and embarrassing. It had been weeks of suffering for fans, players and coaches as the team not only struggled at home but on the road as well.
The suffering ended in dramatic fashion as Pancel let a shot go from just past the blueline that eluded Belleville goalie Connor Hicks and trickled through his pads and crawling over the goal-line 1:18 into overtime to give the Wolves a 7-6 come-from-behind victory. (The Wolves were down 6-3 early in the third period before charging back.)
It sent the fans into a frenzy. The Wolves players roared onto the ice and mobbed Pancel in the corner. It was a sight that had not been seen in a long time at Sudbury Community Arena, and the fans soaked it up as they gave the team a standing ovation and an extended chorus of cheers.
“That’s the best moment so far this season,” forward Matt Schmalz said. “I haven’t heard the crowd that loud in a while. It’s spectacular.”
The Wolves have had their tails handed to them in several home games this season, most notably the previous night when Central Division rival, the Barrie Colts, stampeded in and thumped the Wolves 9-2.
Sudbury has also endured tough losses on the road. There hasn’t been much to get giddy about as the team started the season 2-15 after the Barrie loss.
This game looked like it was going the way of another blow-out as Belleville held leads of 5-2 in the second period and 6-3 in the third period. Belleville starting goalie Charlie Graham left the game after the first period, and didn’t not return after making 18 saves and keeping Sudbury goalless.
The Wolves went to work on back-up Hicks and eventually chopped down the lead, tying the game when Schmalz collected a rebound and scored with just 26 seconds left in the game and the goalie pulled.
The win could turn the tide on the Wolves’ season.
“We never gave up. Something like this is something that could turn the season around and give us so much momentum,” Schmalz said.
It was a fairly even first period of hockey that gave no signs the game would turn into a wild shoot-out.
Sudbury pushed the pace for most of the period and out-shot the Bulls 18-11. Belleville came out with a 1-0 lead thanks to a goal by Niki Petti.
Things got wide open in the second period as both teams took the run-and-gun approach. The teams combined for seven goals in the middle frame as the Bulls took a 5-3 lead.
Belleville got goals from Stephen Harper, Michael Cramarossa, Jordan Subban and Brett Gustavsen. Sudbury got goals from Brook Hiddink, playing his first game with Sudbury since working out with the team at practice during the week, Brady Pataki, with his first career OHL goal, and Kyle Capobianco.
Belleville padded the lead to 6-3 just 1:12 into the third period when Harper scored his second of the game.
It looked like Sudbury was done, but they came storming back in the second half of the period to force overtime thanks to two goals from Pancel and the tying goal from Schmalz. It set up the heroics of Pancel in overtime with his hat-trick goal and the emotional victory.
“It feels really good,” Pancel said. “It’s a win against one of the best teams in the country right now. It shows we can compete with the best of them. We were just not giving up.”
The Wolves expect to build off the win.
“We’re not going to be as miserable,” Pancel said. “It brings us closer together. We’re going to be more happy. This week should be a fun week of practice and that carries on to games because when you’re having fun, you’re winning.”
As much as the victory should be celebrated, reality has to set in quickly for the Wolves. It was only their third win of the season and Belleville was missing it’s No. 1 goalie for two periods and several top players.
Nonetheless, the win will be savoured.
“It hasn’t been easy,” Sudbury head coach Paul Fixter said. “One thing I’ve been consistent with throughout this is the guys care and the guys have worked, for the most part, and tonight they were rewarded for that and they persevered and never let up. I’m really happy for the players. It gives them hope that we still have a chance to fill the hole we’ve dug.”
New forward Hiddink has bounced around the league since being a high draft pick by Niagara in 2012, trying to fulfill his potential. Hiddink enjoyed the debut.
“It was awesome,” he said. “It was one of the most exciting wins I’ve ever been a part of. It was a great team effort and definitely showed some character coming back in the end. It felt really good to contribute and hopefully, I can keep doing that.”
Pancel gave praise to goalie Troy Timpano, who made 32 saves and saved his best for the final moments of the third period to keep Sudbury alive.
“We have to give credit to Timpano. He played well,” Pancel said.
The Wolves hit the road next weekend for a three-games-in-three-nights trip. The Wolves play Mississauga, Sarnia and Kitchener.
Game notes
The three stars of the game were: Nathan Pancel (first), David Tomasek (second) and Jacob Harris (third).
Sudbury scratched Danny Desrochers, Michael Pezzetta and Brody Milne.
Belleville scratched Jake Marchment, Brandon Saigeon, Chad Heffernan and Jack Hanley.
There was only one penalty called in the game, against Belleville for tripping.
Sudbury forward Brody Silk left the game early in the second period and did not return. His status was unclear after the game.
