Leclair scores late to give Chiefs the win over Excelsiors

 

Sam Leclair played the role of hero, scoring with two seconds remaining in regulation time to give the Six Nations Chiefs a 7-6 victory over the Brampton Excelsiors in Major Series Lacrosse action Thursday.

The Excelsiors got on the board first when Luke Van Schepen beat Warren Hill unassisted at 6:35.  The Chiefs answered back on the power-play when Cody Jamieson blasted a shot off a Lyle Thompson pass at 10:52, followed by Tyson Bell scoring in transition, finishing off a Kevin Hill feed at 15:00. 

The Excelsiors scored twice before the end of the period. Seth Van Schepen scored on the power-play off an Alec Simons pass at 16:02, followed by Jonathan Gagliardi finishing a Luke Van Schepen pass at 18:27.

BOXSCORE

The Excelsiors opened the second period scoring with Steven Portelli converting a Carter Zavitz pass at 2:05, followed by Zavitz himself scoring on the power-play off a James Whiteford pass at 8:05.

The Chiefs came back with two of their own. Austin Staats converted an Eric Fannell pass at 11:03, followed by a laser by Lyle Thompson unassisted 0:18 seconds later.  Austin Staats second of the night tied the game off a Lyle Thompson pass at 17:44. 

In the third period, the Excelsiors regained the lead when Lucas Ferreira converted a Tyler Ferreira pass at 5:48, but Larson Sundown tied the game on the power-play off a Brendan Bomberry feed at 14:50. 

With just 0:02 seconds left in the game Sam LeClair converted a Lyle Thompson pass to win the game for the Chiefs in dramatic fashion.

NOTES: The Excelsiors, in cooperation with the Chiefs celebrated Indigenous Heritage Month during the game with a ceremony featuring the Ontario Native Women's Association.