By Drew McMillin

After falling out of a playoff spot following a 1-5 home stand, the Ironheads needed a big performance on their late season road trip to Ottawa if they were going to keep their post season dreams alive. Impressive offensive performances by Sean Westley and Dylan Tulett complemented shut down defensive efforts from the likes of Austin Haber, Riley Kumano, Emeka Okaeme and Spencer Andrews as the I-Heads squeezed out two gritty wins to put the team back into playoff contention with three games left to play in the regular season.

First up on the roadtrip were the Nepean Knights, Saturday evening after the long bus ride to the Ottawa area. That didn’t seem to bother West Durham, as the boys were energized from the start.

“The guys looked great in warm up. Everyone was ready to go and bus legs didn't seem to be a factor,” said assistant coach Pat Gregoire. “We completely out played the Knights in the first period, we just couldn't finish on our chances early on.”

Goals from Aidan Conlon, Kurtis Rauch and Westley had the visitors trailing by one going into the second frame; the period in which the Ironheads have seen numerous leads slip away in recent games. This time, however, it was West Durham’s turn to use the middle 20 to swing the game. Owen Strickland, Kumano, Conlon and Westley each lit the lamp to help Tyler Newman, who allowed just two goals against in the frame and the I-Heads took a 7-6 lead into the third.

In the third, the Ironheads allowed the Knights to tie the game twice, including an equalizer with under a minute to go to send the game to overtime.

“The guys reacted well and stayed positive,” Gregoire said about his team giving up the lead late. “They knew we put ourselves in this situation but believed they could get themselves out of it and get a win. They didn't care how we we're going to win, they were just going to make it happen.”

And in the extra frame, that’s exactly what the Ironheads did. Despite giving up the first goal, they stormed back just 31 seconds after Nepean scored, with Taggart Clark tying the game at nine, where it would remain until late in the extra frame.

With under a minute to go, Nepean’s net was empty as they pressed for the go-ahead goal. The Ironheads forced a turnover and quickly transitioned the ball into the attacking zone. There, Kumano and Haber both had near misses at the empty net as the Knights goalie scrambled to get back into his crease.  As he did, Spencer Gaunt picked a rebound up off the backboards and outwaited the goalie to bury the thrilling game winner with just 14 seconds left to play in the period, as the Ironheads took it with a final score of 10-9.

“With a gritty victory like that, the coaching staff knew this team wasn't ready to pack in the season,” said Gregoire. “They were ready for a business trip looking for four points.”

With two of those possible four points secured, the I-Heads had a quick turnaround just a few kilometres up Highway 417 in Gloucester at 2 p.m. the next day. Despite the short rest, West Durham again came out firing against the Griffins, but again had some trouble finding the back of the net and headed into the second trailing 5-3.

Any lingering doubts about the Ironheads’ ability to perform in second periods were completely obliterated after the team exploded for six straight goals by six different players in the middle frame to take a four-goal lead into the final 20 minutes.

In the third, goalie Chris Steele and the aforementioned Ironheads defensive corps shut the door on any hope of a Gloucester comeback leading the away team to their second straight win, 11-8 the final.

Tullet was a standout for the Ironheads with three goals, three assists and big contributions all over the floor. “He was massive for us,” said Gregoire. “It wasn’t just his six points, but he was a machine on loose balls for us. He must have had close to 20 by himself. He also did a great job getting back on defence to eliminate Gloucester’s transition game.”

Westley added to his team-leading points total with 11 on the weekend to bring his tally to 54. That included seven assists, increasing his OJBLL-rookie lead and putting him just nine helpers shy of the I-Heads single season record with 42.

“Of course, these two wins weren't the prettiest, but they were very gritty, guttsy team wins that were huge for us,” Gregoire said. “The guys set a goal of four points and they did everything they could to make sure we we're coming home with four points. The staff and I we're extremely proud of them for that.”

The four points are crucial in a playoff race that now sees West Durham in seventh place with three games left to go on the season. The Ironheads sit just a point ahead of the Orillia Kings, with whom they’ll square off Thursday in Orillia.