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Home Sweet Home: Overtime win gives Robertson Cup to Tornado in host year
BY Chris O’Dell, codell@starlocalnews.com
FRISCO – The last time the Texas Tornado hosted the Roberston Cup was in 2004, with the trophy staying in Frisco for the first of three straight championships.
Texas was looking to repeat history Tuesday night as the Tornado hosted the St. Louis Bandits in the championship game after defeating Fairbanks in the semifinals Monday.
And the Frisco-based team did exactly that, winning a back-and-forth affair against the Bandits, 4-3 in overtime.
It didn't take long in the extra period for Texas to put the game away as Plano native Justin Greenberg scored less than five minutes into overtime on a goal assisted by Jack Prince and Lucas Whelan.
"Everyone was confident we were going to win," Justin said. "There wasn't a doubt in our minds that we were going to win it."
"I don't even know what to say right now," added Jordan Greenberg, forward from Plano and Justin’s older brother. "Words can't even describe it."
It took a goal late in the third period for Texas to force overtime as St. Louis led, 3-2, for much of the final period and looked as if it might upset the home team. However, forward Jordan Lovick put the puck past St. Louis goalkeeper Spencer Viele with just 5:34 remaining in regulation to knot the game at three goals apiece and push the momentum back into the Tornado's favor.
"I have to give the guys a lot of credit," Curtale said. "With this team, there's never an issue with focus."
The win marked the fourth time a host team has won the Robertson Cup, with Texas earning its second victory in such situations. It was also the Tornado's fourth overtime game of the tournament and second straight win in the extra period
"[The Robertson Cup] is a great deal for the fans," Curtale said. "It speaks volumes of what's happening in Texas."
“We walked in on the first day and knew we had a shot at winning," Justin added. "We got it done in the end and coach Curtale had us prepared for everything."
The first period was dominated by Texas and eventually saw Plano's Marc Biggs give the Tornado their first lead 18 minutes into the game. Biggs scored on a goal assisted by Prince and Whelan that went just over the left shoulder of Viele to find the back of the net.
Texas held a marked shot advantage for the bulk of the evening with Viele turning away 34-of-38 shots faced and Texas netminder Frederick Leisner stopping 19-of-22.
Leisner didn't surrender his first goal until early in the second period when St. Louis earned a power play after a two-minute checking penalty on Texas' Mitchell McPherson. The Bandits scored just 33 seconds into the penalty after Joe Kalisz put a rebound shot past Leisner to even the game, 1-1.
McPherson would make up for the penalty later in the period, scoring his first goal of the tournament at the 5:40 mark after sneaking a long backhand shot into the net.
The Bandits came right back with a goal just one minute later, tying the score at 2-2 on a shot from Stephen Bopp. St. Louis didn't stop there, taking the lead with just 2:42 remaining in the second period on a goal from Drew Kariofiles.
The score was the Bandits' second in less than two minutes.
"We let off for a little bit," Jordan said. "I don't know why, but we eventually took it to them again."
The Bandits entered the third with the 3-2 lead and would keep the advantage for more than 14 minutes of the final period before Lovick's goal at the 5:34 mark.
"It made the game a little nerve-racking," Jordan said. "But it was unbelievable."
The Tornado earned two spots on the all-tournament team after the win, with defenseman John Kirtland on the list with Lovick, who was named MVP for the Robertson Cup.
When asked if the overtime thriller made the victory any more satisfying, Biggs made his feelings obvious.
"Absolutely," he said.
Tuesday’s championship marked the end of several Tornado careers. The 4-3 victory was the final game Biggs and Jordan will play for the Frisco team, as both players start college this fall.
"It's unbelievable," Jordan said. "I don't know what will happen from here, but this is a moment I'll remember forever."
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