Eskies late comeback ends Skyhawks season

Skyhawks forward Dustin Fummerton shakes hands after another disappointing loss at the hands of the Abitibi Eskimos. Photo by Chris Dawson.

The word the Eskimos used was, “Magical,” as they described the unlikely final four minutes of a game that seemed to be in the North Bay Skyhawks hands.

The Eskimos battled back with two goals in the final four minutes of play to go on and defeat the North Bay Skyhawks 3-2 and win the best-of-seven NOJHL semifinal series 4 games to 2.

The Skyhawks took a 2-1 lead into the 3rd period and the Eskimos did very little to threaten that lead until the final minutes of the game as Russel Morin snuck behind the Skyhawks defence, took an outlet pass from Dustin Roy and whistled a knuckler from just inside the top of the circle over the blocker of a stunned Andre Laperriere.

Then rookie Josh Clancy scored the biggest goal of his hockey career off a rebound on a Morin shot with only 1:36 left on the clock.

“I don’t know how much it means but all these guys who have been here for 4 or 5 years and been knocked out by North Bay every year in the first round and to see them in the room makes me so happy – me I’m lucky I’m a rookie and I’m just glad to accomplish this,” said Clancy after the game.

Skyhawks Black Magic?

For the North Bay Skyhawks the only magic that was in place was black as they witnessed victory slip through their fingers and cost them their season.

“Oh, for sure it’s hard to swallow right now,” said defenceman Chad Jones whose junior hockey career ended on this night.

“Four years of junior it’s all you think about and work for is trying to win a Junior ‘A’ championship the sad thing is too that we all believed that we were capable of putting this team out and making it all the way.”

Despite the two goals, Justin Roy never stopped believing in his team.
"We knew there was still a minute and a half left to put one in and until the final buzzer went we thought we were going to put in a goal and force overtime but we weren't able to and that's that," said the visibly disappointed forward from Temiscaming.

The game started well for the Eskimos fresh off an 8-1 spanking of the Skyhawks the night before in Iroquois Falls as Jason Robin scored a first period powerplay goal to give the Eskimos the early lead.

Skyhawks forward Dustin Fummerton responded late in the first to even the score at 1-1.

The Eskimos had a huge opportunity to take the lead early in the second period as they had 1:15 of a two-man advantage but were unable to capitalize.

After the big penalty kill Dustin Fummerton appeared to give the Skyhawks the 2-1 lead as he rushed down the left wing and fired a shot that appeared to have went in and out of the net without the clanging sound of hitting a post or cross bar.

Brad Hummel tipped in a Brad Norkum point shot with less than 5 minutes left in the second period on a powerplay to make it 2-1 after two.

The Protest

Sunday’s loss ended the Skyhawks worst weekend of playoff history since the club moved to North Bay in the fall of 2002 with the big key being a protested victory for the Eskimos on Friday night that was changed late Saturday afternoon by the NOHA.

Skyhawks head coach Ian Swalucynski felt taking away a victory from his team only hours before their next playoff game was too much for his team to take.

“We get on the bus we are up 3-1 and we stop for something to eat and we are not, it’s 2-2,” said Swalucynski.

“It’s too bad that the games were back to back like they were because I don’t think we recovered and again we played well and they got two deflection goals it’s frustrating.”

Skyhawks veteran General Manager Guy Blanchard wouldn't sound off anymore about the protest after the loss. He may not have agreed with the process and the time frame that it was handed out in, but he did give Abitibi some credit for the series win.

“For Abitibi they haven’t won anything in the last 8 years," said Blanchard.

"They’ve had a lot of good hockey clubs there and they could never seem to get past the semifinals but they are now in the finals and it will be good for the fans and good for the league and congratulations to the Eskies and go from there.”