Thrillers even in juvenile

West London defenceman Adam Newton (white jersey)
chases down a North London attacker in London
juvenile semifinal action.

Turns out even local juvenile games can be thrillers when it's boiled down to a one-game semifinal.
My son's West London team, reinforced by three APs to bring the skater count up to 10, worked their way to a comfortable 5-2 lead with minutes to play.
Then my son got four minutes in penalties for a punch or two. Oddly, the other teen got away with his initial jabs and a final jab after the call.
Then there was another penalty.
And another.
The third goal. The fourth. The fifth on a crazy deflection and we're tied.
Moments later, opposing North scores what at first appears to be the 6-5 winner with one referee calling a goal. Turns out the other saw what most of the kids on the ice saw: The North player pushed the puck in the next with his hand. North's on-ice celebration is cancelled.
A four-on-four overtime couldn't start until the convener clarified whether or not it should be three-on-four or two-on-four due to penalties.
Fast forward through overtime when nails were bitten but nothing resolved, and it's time to resolve the game with a skills competition - aka shootout.
Three shooters. West scores on its first two, North does not, yet no one seems to figure out the game is over and West can celebrate - for real. They let the third shooters go, for no apparent reason except the thrill of the skate.
After a dismal season where they won only once without the use of APs, the West team moves on Sunday to the city final, albeit in the B pool.
Wish them luck, I won't be there for what might be my son's last minor hockey game thanks to a crazy little thing called work.