In a split-second, Mark Losa became the hero of the Mayor's Cup.
In tightly-contested and competitive Open Division final, Losa jumped all over a rebound 4:10 into sudden death overtime to lift the Blueliners Bulls to a 2-1 win over McDougall Fuels to claim the Mayor's Cup and the distinction as the top team in local men's league hockey.
The Bulls (shown in picture)captured the championship on Saturday night in front of a tournament record crowd at the Pee Wee Arena.
Gary Roach opened the scoring for Blueliners late in the first period. The Bulls then clung to the 1-0 lead until the third period when Randy Barry tied the game for McDougall with 11:22 remaining.
The goaltenders were the highlight of the contest throughout as the Bulls' Steve Farkas and McDougall's Dan Missere made several quality saves and frustrated shooters from both sides.
With the intensity picking up in the overtime session, the Bulls' Mike Flammia took a shot from the point which rebounded and eventually found the stick of Losa who then found the open net.
"Flammia put the shot on net, (Richard) Bishop battled hard for the rebound and I happened to be at the right place and the right time," said Losa. "This feels really good and we played hard. You have to get them credit as well because they battled back against us."
Flammia also added another assist on Roach's goal.
*** OVER-33 DIVISION:
In the Over-33 Division final, Tulloch Engineering rode the shutout netminding of Jeff Grisdale to a 4-0 win over Stitch King/Weedman.
Ivan Khull's opening goal in the first period proved to be the winner. Scott Sloss, Mark Pavoni and Frank Gaccione, who also added an assist, rounded out the scoring for the winners with a goal each in the third period.
*** AWARD WINNERS:
Open Division:
Most Valuable Player: Darcy Seaton (McDougall Fuels) Top Goaltender: Travis Ruicci (Soo Sports Excellence) Top Defenseman: Derek MacFarlane (A.J. Bus Lines) Scoring Title: Kevin MacKay (Soo Kings) Most Sportsmanlike Player: Mark Losa (Blueliners Bulls)
Over-33 Division:
Most Valuable Player: Mike Johnson (Stitch King/Weedman) Scoring Title: Mike Johnson (Stitch King/Weedman) Top Goaltender: Jeff Cooke (Micro Age/Blueliners) Top Defenseman: Eric Hicks (Mr. Transmission) Most Sportsmanlike Player: Nelson Duschene (Tulloch Engineering)