By Drew McMillin

Going into Thursday night’s game in Orillia, the plan was simple for the Ironheads: win and we’re in. West Durham entered the contest just one point up on their opponent, needing two points to clinch a playoff spot, and early on they played like they wanted to do so.

The Ironheads jumped out to an energetic 5-1 lead at the first intermission behind two goals from Aidan Conlon and one each from Dylan Tulett, Sean Westley and Owen Strickland. The early offensive output complemented a stifling defensive effort from all I-Heads runners and starting goaltender Chris Steele.

In the second, the Kings came out firing, beating Steele six times in the frame. Two more goals from Westley, another from Tulett and one from Riley Kumano gave the Ironheads a two-goal lead after 40 minutes.

The final period was a back and forth nail-biter. The Kings constantly pressured, coming close at times, but the I-Heads matched them every step of the way, refusing to relinquish the lead. Taggart Clark, Westley’s fourth, Conlon’s third and a charged-up Noah Landriault, making his return to his former home arena, made the score 13-9 before the Kings stormed back with three straight, including two with the man advantage.

With the home team pressing for the equalizer in the dying minutes, Tulett snuck a back-hand shot just past the Orillia goalie to give the Ironheads some insurance, completing the hat trick and putting the game out of reach. The I-Heads would head to the dressing room with a 14-12 win, but not before some shenanigans from both sides after the final buzzer.

“Obviously there was a lot of emotions going on the whole game,” said Westley. “It was a very chippy game, very back and forth so emotions can rise. But we got the two points and that’s all we really needed.”

With his four goals and a pair of assists, Westley improved his team-leading point total to an even 60, including a massive 17 in his last three contests.

“I’m feeling great,” said the rookie forward. “The offense is really starting to pick it up, the transition game has gotten a lot better. When we’re working it around and setting picks and getting the ball working, it’s easy to get good looks and get some goals.”

The two points earned in the win mean that West Durham can now finish no worse than seventh. Although it’s happy to have clinched a postseason berth, the team has loftier goals with two games remaining on the schedule.

“It’s super exciting obviously, but we still have to get to that next spot,” said Tulett, whose three goals Thursday gave him his second hattrick in as many games. “We want to get better. It’s exciting, but we still have to get the next two.”

The I-Heads take on the East-leading Green Gaels Saturday night at Iroquois Park in Whitby as part of the Lacrosse Day in Durham festivities before wrapping up the regular season home to the Mississauga Tomahawks Sunday.