Caledon’s Nolan Keeler says team is pushing for an OJHL playoff berth
By Ron Valentine
Nolan Keeler was just hoping for a team win on Saturday.
Bonus.
His Caledon Admirals got the victory and Keeler skated off with an unusual personal achievement.
Keeler scored four shorthanded goals to lead the Admirals to a 5-3 win over the Georgetown Raiders in Ontario Junior Hockey League action at the Mold-Masters SportsPlex in Georgetown.
Keeler, 18, played for the Raiders last season.
He sets up the matchup and walks us through all four goals.
“It was a game we really had to win to keep our playoff hopes alive and it was a little bit more special for me living here in Georgetown,” Keeler said. “On the first goal we won a 50/50 battle for the puck and I picked up a pass at the blueline and I was able to fake the goalie and score on my forehand.
“On the second it was similar but this time I was able to push the puck in on the backhand. On the third I had a defenceman covering me as I broke in but I was able to hold him off and I was just able to get the puck over the goalie on the backhand, to me this was the best of the goals.
“On the empty-netter I was just thinking about clearing the puck but I got a good bounce and was alone from our blueline in and that was the easiest.”
“Joe (Washkurak), our head coach, saw what was happening and kept putting me out in those situations”
Keeler gives an assist to his coach
“Though the win meant a lot to the team, it was a really good feeling to score four goals, especially shorthanded,” he said. “Joe (Washkurak), our head coach, saw what was happening and kept putting me out in those situations. It was really just one of those nights. I did get some good bounces but like the rest of the guys I was really focused.
“I got lots of ‘high fives’ and there was a lot of excitement but of course I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.”
The Admirals (19-24-1-3) are in ninth place in the 12-team OJHL West Conference. They trail the Mississauga Chargers (25-21-0-4) by eight points.
The top eight teams in each conference qualify for the postseason. The regular season ends on March 1.
“We have nine games left to make it into the playoffs and we will be giving it our best effort,” Keeler said. “We have a great bunch of guys here. I started the season playing with Cam Lang and Curtis Freeman, two very skilled players. I’ve also been on a line with Jack Fang and Jacob Owsiki and for the last couple of games Fang and I have teamed up with Nate Brentnell who is a great playmaker.”
The Admirals visit Wellington on Tuesday afternoon. They’re home to Mississauga in a proverbial four-pointer at the Mayfield Recreation Complex on Thursday night.
