Game of the Week: Bradford Inches Closer to North Division Title with OT Win Over Wasaga

The Bradford Rattlers took another major step toward clinching both the GMHL’s North Division crown and the league’s regular-season title, edging out the second-place Wasaga River Dragons 4–3 in overtime on Tuesday night at the Wasaga Stars Arena. With this victory, the Rattlers improved to 6-1-0 against Wasaga this season, further asserting their dominance as the postseason looms.

Game Summary

First Period

Bradford wasted no time setting the tone, striking just 1:40 into the contest when Tomas Lucenius buried a feed from Anrijs Bundzenieks and Magomed-Bashir Maisigov. Both teams traded early opportunities, but the period remained a goaltending showcase, with neither side finding the back of the net again before intermission.

Second Period

The middle frame featured an offensive surge from both teams. Bradford extended their lead to 2–0 at 7:33, with William Hoffman converting on the power play off assists from Aaron Stemper and Isac Karlsson. Just under three minutes later, Oliver Lindqvist finished off a setup from Karlsson and Bundzenieks to make it 3–0.

Wasaga refused to back down, storming back with three unanswered goals. At 12:06, Hayden Lacquette finally solved Rattlers' goaltender Nikita Radchenko, finishing a play from Lazarus Constant and Aaro Tuovinen. The River Dragons capitalized on a power play at 16:50, with Michal Novak scoring off assists from Lacquette and Nir Sigalov. Just 18 seconds later, Olle Bjalkefors completed the comeback, slotting home a goal assisted by Tay Kurpius and Emil Mouantri to tie the game at 3–3 heading into the third.

Third Period & Overtime

Both teams tightened up defensively in the third, with neither squad able to break the deadlock despite several prime scoring opportunities. The game headed to overtime, where the Rattlers wasted little time securing the victory. At 17:46, Anrijs Bundzenieks played the hero, finishing a pass from Karlsson to lift Bradford to a thrilling 4–3 win.

Goaltending Battle

Both netminders were tested throughout the night, with each team firing 41 shots on goal. Bradford’s Nikita Radchenko was stellar, stopping 38 of 41 shots (.927 SV%) en route to being named the game’s first star. On the other end, Wasaga’s Brody Pritchard put up a valiant effort with 37 saves on 41 shots but ultimately fell just short.

Key Performances

• Nikita Radchenko (Bradford) – 38 saves, .927 SV%, first star of the game.
• Anrijs Bundzenieks (Bradford) – 1 goal, 2 assists, including the OT winner.
• Isac Karlsson (Bradford) – 3 assists, facilitating the Rattlers' offensive efforts.
• Hayden Lacquette (Wasaga) – 1 goal, 1 assist, helping spark the River Dragons’ comeback attempt.

Implications

With this victory, the Bradford Rattlers move one step closer to officially clinching the North Division and the GMHL regular-season title, further cementing their status as the team to beat heading into the playoffs. Wasaga, despite the loss, remains in second place and will look to regroup as they prepare for their postseason push.

What’s Next?

• Bradford Rattlers: The Rattlers continued their march toward the playoffs and the #1 seed on Sunday with a win against Senneterre and will have a chance to clinch the regular season title for the third straight on Thursday against Meaford
• Wasaga River Dragons: The River Dragons who have since won 2 straight against the Knights of Meaford and head to Quebec this weekend for a 2 game set with the Ville-Marie Pirates

With the playoffs rapidly approaching, Bradford’s win serves as a statement that they are ready to contend for the Russell Cup once more, while Wasaga will aim to close the gap and prove they can challenge the division leaders when it matters most.