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Controversial Bull Fight at Gardens (VIDEO & PHOTOS)

The North Bay Battalion kept firing pucks at Belleville goalie Charlie Graham. Despite peppering the net with 50 shots, the troops fell 3-2 in a contoversial overtime shootout.

The North Bay Battalion kept firing pucks at Belleville goalie Charlie Graham. Despite peppering the net with 50 shots, the troops fell 3-2 in a contoversial overtime shootout. PHOTO By: Tom Martineau

When it appeared that Jake Smith made a game winning save in the seventh round of the shootout, celebrations took place on and off the ice. The Horn sounded and fans began to leave the building. However, the puck later trickled into the net and after video review, it was called a goal and the shootout continued. The mood of the building went from joy to frustration, after Belleville’s Stephen Harper put the game away in the 11th round.

“I watched it two or three times and I don’t know. I can’t tell if it just bounces up in the air and then bounces off the referee or their player. It’s hard to tell, I would need to see the overhead angle, but there is no doubt on the initial shot that it is stopped by Jake Smith,” said North Bay head coach Stan Butler when asked to comment on the play.

It was a game in which North Bay dominated the first and third period. The Battalion badly outshot and outplayed the Bulls. Kyle Wood went five hole on Charlie Graham during North Bay’s first power play of the game at the 5:45 mark. However, the Bulls responded with two unanswered goals, courtesy Jake Marchment and Jordan Subban. Brenden Miller managed to tie the game early in the third and despite playing shorthanded in the final minutes, the Battalion had several scoring opportunities, but could not capitalize.

“We had 50 shots and they had 24. Their goalie was outstanding and made a lot of great saves. He is the reason they are coming home with two points,” stated Butler.

The best save by Charlie Graham came in overtime when he robbed Nick Paul of an open cage with his goalie stick. North Bay also had a man in advantage in extra time, but Graham continued to play a solid game between the pipes.

Despite the frustrating loss, coach Butler was not critical of the way his team played.

“Life is full of process and you got to get better. At times you are going to play very, very good games and not get the results you want and sometimes you are going to play lousy games and get good results. We got to stick with the process. We played a good game against a team that is 9-3.”

The Battalion remain at the top of the Central Division with 16 points; one more than Barrie and with two games in hand.

Highlights here: