Jan 19, 2014 | mbeaven | 2158 views
A Goal for the History Books
Over the history of this great game we call hockey there have been a few moments in time that a miraculous goal ensures that the game will be remembered for generations.
September 28, 1972, a country called Canada watched a player from Lucknow, Ontario score what is simply known as the "Paul Henderson Goal" earning Canada the win over the Soviets in the 1972 Summit Series.
Then again on February 28th, 2010 "Sid the Kid" would score an overtime winner in the Gold Medal Game at the Vancouver Olympics giving the Canadians the Gold over the Americans.
Then on January 19th, 2014 in London, Ontario what is now being simply referred to as "The Goal!" happened resulting in jubilation and triumph throughout the country......well at least the countryside of Huron/Bruce/Grey and Perth Counties.
The Saugeen Maitland Lightning AA Peewees headed to London's Western Fair Complex for a Sunday late night game against their arch rivals, the London Devilettes.
The first two periods saw end to end action, hard fought battles and a very physical game. With both teams getting some excellent scoring opportunities, the game was definitely being classified as a nail biter. However, neither team was able to find the mesh as the teams headed into the dressing rooms between the second and third period.
The third period started, with the Devilettes coming out flying. The Lightning were starting to show some tiredness, and combined with some penalty problems, the Saugeen crowd were getting nervous.
Then half way through the final frame, while shorthanded, Leah Herrfort let a blistering shot from her own blue line down the ice. The shot, was just too hot to handle for the London net minder, as it flew between her legs into the net, giving the Lightning the 1 to nothing lead. With a goal like this, from such a distance, one would think that is the goal this writer is referring to above.....but amazingly enough, it is not!
London starting to realize that they were in danger of losing, really started turning up the heat. Then with four minutes left in the game, the Devilettes were able to get one by the Saugeen goalie Julia Beaven, who had played a very strong game between the pipes.
With the game tied, and as clock ticking down minutes turned to seconds, both refused to quit. Then it happened!!!
With 6 seconds left, Hana Solinger broke free of the Saugeen end-zone and found herself on a break away....but would there be time?
With the fans screaming, Solinger showed her true determination and nerves of steel as she sped down the ice, and went five hole on the London goalie, scoring the game winning goal with .3 seconds left......you read that right....I said point three seconds.....3/10ths of a second left!!!!!!
The arena erupted, the girls were elated and I'm fairly confident that all of southwestern Ontario heard....Saugeen-Maitland Lightning had beat their arch (yet very respected) rival!
"The Goal" will definitely go down in the history books!!! Congrats to the entire team...you girls deserve it!