BRANTFORD, ONTARIO – The Brantford Titans concluded their mini two game home stand on Saturday against the Welland Jr. Canadians. With the Titans already locking up a playoff spot, they were looking to cement themselves into sixth place in the Eastern Conference heading into the postseason. James Gall got the call between the pipes for Brantford while Alex Hall was in net for Welland.
In the first period, the Titans would receive four opportunities on the power play as the Jr. Canadians got themselves into penalty trouble throughout the midway point of the frame. Unfortunately, none of the power play opportunities resulted in goals however, Ryan Chamberlain would get the puck on his stick in the slot and fire a wrister past Hall to put the Titans up 1-0. Chamberlain, how had his back turned to the goal, would receive the puck, turn, shoot and score all in one motion for his sixth goal of the season. James Gall was not too busy at the other end. Welland did get a couple of decent looks on net however, they could not solve the Titans goaltender. Brantford would take a 1-0 lead into the intermission with a 12-5 shot advantage.
In the second, it took just 12 seconds for Joey Kapel to double the Titans lead as Tyson Papple won the faceoff clean in the offensive zone with some help from Isaac Bandoo and Bandoo would find Kapel in the slot for his 11th goal of the season. The Titans would then get their fifth chance on the power play about a minute later but could not convert and get the lead to three. Welland would continue to hang around and their leading scorer Yegor Staiko would streak into the Titans zone and fire a shot past the glove of James Gall to get the Jr. Canadians back within a goal, making it 2-1. A couple of Titans penalties would follow but the Jr. Canadians were unable to convert. The Titans would once again take a one goal lead into the intermission with a 27-13 shot advantage.
The two teams would swap chances in the third period but neither team would have an answer for either goaltender. The Jr. Canadians would get a glorious opportunity on the power play as Kaleb Frank would receive a double minor for roughing, along with a ten minute misconduct. Welland however, did not generate a game tying goal so the Titans would remain on top by one goal. With just under five minutes to play, Yegor Staiko would barely squeak it by James Gall to grab his second of the game and his 23rd of the season. The score would remain tied and the Titans were headed to overtime for the third time in their last four games.
In overtime, the two teams would only play two minutes before Kaden Wicklander went between his legs to bury the overtime winner out in front of the Welland goal. With their 20th win, the Titans have tied their franchise record for wins in a single season which was set last year.
The Titans kick off the final weekend of the regular season on Friday in Port Colborne before returning home to close things out against Hamilton on Saturday ahead of the GOHL Playoffs.
