Ontario Hockey Association

Tecumseh 4, Thorold 3 (OT)

Jeff Broderick (right) scored his first career post-season goal 1:14 into the first overtime period to give the visiting Tecumseh Chiefs (1-0) a 4-3 win over the Thorold Blackhawks (0-1) Friday night in the opening game of the 2008 GOJHL Sutherland Cup round-robin series in front of 952 spectators at the Thorold Arena.

For Broderick, a fourth-year veteran for the Chiefs, the OT goal was his first-ever post-season goal and his first goal in any game for Tecumseh since February 7.

The Chiefs pulled out the crucial away win despite trailing 2-0 midway through the second period. Thorold's CJ Dickson opened the scoring with a shorthanded marker for the only goal of the first period then scored a power play goal seven minutes into the second. But Tecumseh's David Sharpe replied with two goals of his own five minutes apart before the middle frame was done to tie the game at two heading into the third.

The Chiefs held a 39-20 shots on goal advantage after 40 minutes.

Jesse Carter gave the Chiefs their first lead with a goal two minutes into the third before Zach Graham tied the game for Thorold with 7:22 remaining.

Blackhawks netminder Rick Scarsella almost singlehandedly stole a win by stopping 49 of 52 shots faced in regulation before allowing the game-winner in the only shot on goal by either team in the brief extra frame. Jonathan Hunter made 30 saves for the Chiefs who outshot the Blackhawks 53-33 in the game.

The 53 shots surrendered by the Blackhawks is 18 more than than what they allowed per game in the Golden Horseshoe regular season.

Neither team was overly effective on the power play as the Chiefs went 1 for 8 and surrendered a shorthanded goal while the Blackhawks were 1 for 11 with the man advantage.

The Blackhawks are now faced with the task of winning in Elmira against the Sugar Kings on Sunday (7:00pm start) to avoid going 0-2 in the round robin standings. The Chiefs, who have won five straight games since losing the opening game of the WOHL final, are now off until Wednesday when they host Elmira (7:00pm start).