Junior Advance to Second Round

It almost didn’t happen.

Tied 3-3, it looked like the Junior were headed back to Montreal for a tense Game Seven, the Huskies were taking over the play. Nick Layton took a shot from the left faceoff circle, that ended up on the other side of the ice, behind the net. My eyes stuck on Layton, he stopped moving, he put his hands in the air, and realized no one else was cheering. The play was continuing down the ice in direction of Junior goalie Jake Allen.

Layton slammed his stick on the ice, visibly angry.

Why?

Layton had just scored the winning goal, that would catapult the Junior, in their inaugural year, into the second round of the playoffs. The problem was, the goal soared at such an extreme force it shredded the back of the net and flew out the other side; so fast not even the goal judge thought to turn on the red light.

But Layton saw it. And Layton protested. The Junior’s leading scorer in the regular season had just made the most important play of the season, and it had gone un-noticed. But Layton’s eyes were laser sharp, mimicking his shot. Layton saw what the officials should not have missed – especially not in a game of this importance.

It was the winning goal, and Layton let it be known.

The Junior, who were down 2-0 to start the second, fired back and sent the Huskies packing for the season. The smiles and cheers were loud in the locker-room after the game. The players, on their way to the showers, smiled and high-fived each other.

Captain Matt Fillier didn’t play that night. He was suspended for being the third man in on a fight during the last game. But the night was special for Fillier. A quiet guy, at least on the outside of the locker-room doors, would not end his junior career in the stands.

Matt Fillier is 20 years old. He was captain of the team when they were the St. John’s Fog Devils. Drafted in the third round by Los Angeles, this is Matt’s last year playing junior. On Saturday afternoon, after the Junior’s win that propelled them into the second round, I watched Matt in the hallway outside the dressing room. While I can’t be certain, it looked like Matt was taking a moment to himself. He paced an area of the hallway, away from the crowd, and just stood staring at the wall. It’s no Stanley Cup playoffs, but for these kids it’s their equivalent. It’s just as important to them. Maybe even more important to someone like Fillier.

There’s no telling how far this team will go, and it will be a tough battle through Drummondville, and unchartered territory for most of the team. But what they do know is that they’ve already reached beyond where the pundits had them. Inaugural year, best players out, questionable defense.

Maybe that’s the beauty of Montreal, the rules just don’t seem to apply when it comes to hockey.

Yes, Matt. You’re second round bound.