Thunder win opener in 'A' finals
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The Tillsonburg Thunder started the best-of-seven WOAA A Finals on the right skate Saturday night defeating the Ripley Wolves 7-1.
Shane Balcomb opened the scoring for Tillsonburg midway through the first period on a power play, and the Thunder never looked back, making it 2-0 after one, and 5-1 after two periods.
Thunder captain Jason Skinner scored twice to lead the offence. Also scoring were Trevor Rosborough, Curtis Roloson, Curt Maracle, and Justin Lightfoot.
The A Finals continue next weekend with Game 2 in Ripley Friday at 7 p.m., and back in Tillsonburg on Saturday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Game 4, and Game 5 if necessary, will both be in Ripley April 1 and April 2. Game 6, also if necessary, is in Tillsonburg on April 3 at 5 p.m.
Tillsonburg reached the A Finals with a dramatic 4-3 seventh-game overtime win against Milverton. Brandon Contratto scored at 14:21 in OT with the man advantage to decide the series.
The Thunder had taken a 3-2 lead early in the third on a goal by Mike Findlater, assisted by Balcomb and Adam Vandepoele, but Milverton knotted the score at 3-3 with 6:51 left to play in regulation.
Tillsonburg had fallen behind 3-1 in the best-of-seven semifinals before winning three consecutive games to clinch the series.