Even though it’s still the first month of the season, Akil Thomas helped provide Ontario with a little redemption in a 4-3 win over Bakersfield on Saturday. Back in Game 2, the Condors had handed the Reign their only defeat this year. With the win this weekend, coach Marco Sturm and team improved to 6-1 and remain atop the Pacific Division.
Ontario’s special teams stood tall throughout this contest, scoring two powerplay goals, and killing off all six odd-man chances against.
After being bumped up to third line duty, Kings prospect Samuel Helenius was all over the ice; imposing his physicality and drawing a key penalty. However, in the first specialty jersey night of the season, it was Akil Thomas who stole the show. He did it all, including potting a pair of goals just two minutes apart in the second period – first tying the game, then giving the home team a 2-1 lead. The Toronto native was also great on the penalty kill, taking away passing lanes and breaking up passes on a regular basis.
Bakersfield controlled play for the majority of the first period, outshooting Ontario 11-2. Xavier Bourgault scored a short-handed goal, making the best of a 2-on-1 chance to beat Reign netminder Phoenix Copley.
Perhaps of greater consequence, Samuel Fagemo left the game in the first period after getting shaken up and did not return. His status remains TBD for now.
In the second period, Ontario flipped the game upside down, scoring four goals, including three in five minutes. The 22-year-old Thomas tied the game after good puck movement on the powerplay. Captain T.J. Tynan skated down the right wall, then feathered a pass between two defenders onto Thomas’ stick, who showed great patience before finding the back of the net. Minutes later, Lias Andersson collected an errant puck, shot it, with Thomas then punching it in off a deflection.
Midway through the middle period, Nate Thompson moved down the wall, made an escape move and found Austin Wagner on the back door, extending Ontario’s lead to three. Before the period came to an end, Aidan Dudas scored with a sneaky wrist shot from the left circle.
Following an early third period goal to draw closer, Bakersfield scored again with just 40 seconds remaining in regulation and their goalie pulled. Even so, the Condors effort fell short, as Ontario held on for the victory’ evening the season series at 1-1.
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Lead Photo by Daniel Stopani
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Akil Thomas has crazy-fast hands.
Hockey IQ through-the-roof, too.
Every game I see him play, I like him more and more.
He might be the natural replacement for Lizotte, whom I love,
but Akil has more skill, IMO, and he’s great defensively as well.