For the first time in 32 OLA Jr. B regular season games, the Green Gaels came out on the wrong end of a final score, dropping a 6-4 decision to the Barrie Tornado on Thursday night in Bowmanville at the Recreation Complex. The streak, that dated back to 2006, included seven wins in a row this season, a perfect 20 in 2007 and five to finish out the 2006 regular season.
Despite still sporting an impressive 7-1-0 mark this season, head coach Jason Crosbie was seething after the game, categorizing the loss as 'embarrassing' and vowing that changes will be made. He didn't hold anything back as he vented his frustration.
"A loss is good, but a loss like this is embarrassing," he said. "I'm really embarrassed and those kids should be embarrassed about the way they played.
"You can lose. There's no shame in losing, but to lose like that is embarrassing.
"I don't know what is going on, but I know there are going to be changes for sure. We're going to start bringing back some guys that we let go. We are eight games in and some guys are just not getting it... We are so frustrated right now, we don't know what to do.
"There are some kids who are giving it their all and you can see it. But for half our kids, they have a rude awakening coming in the next little bit."
Needless to say, with a week off to prepare before hosting Huntsville on Thursday, practice sessions leading up to the game will be intense.
The home-and-home series between the Green Gaels and Barrie ended the undefeated records for both this season. Just one night earlier, the Green Gaels ended Barrie's perfect 5-0-0 start to the season, winning 11-7 on the home floor of the Tornado.
Three goals in the final 2:43 of Wednesday's game was the difference for the Green Gaels in their win. Barrie used three unanswered goals in the second period on Thursday to establish a lead they wouldn't relinquish. The goals, all coming courtesy of the power play, broke a 2-2 tie through the opening period. The Green Gaels pulled to within two at 5-3 just 2:05 into the final period on a shorthanded tally by Shayne Jackson, but Barrie replied just over four minutes later before Jackson, with his third of the night, closed out the scoring with 8:03 remaining.
Five of the six Barrie goals came on the power play, which was another sore spot with Crosbie.
"It's brutal. It's pathetic," he said of undisciplined play. "In junior, those penalties are going to kill you and we were playing a team that's not even close to being an offensive team."
In addition to the three goals by Jackson, Ryan Serville potted the other.
