Medicine Chest forced the one-game final by defeating AON 3-0 Tuesday night. Mike Hawkins recorded the shutout, Scott Palfreyman scored twice and Martin O’Hagan added a single marker.

On Wednesday, the two teams were back on the Takhini Arena ice to determine who would be the Whitehorse Oldtimers Hockey League champion.

AON was able to put the previous night’s loss behind them and rally from an unlucky first-period goal to win the Oldtimers Hockey League by a score of 5-3.

Paul Sullivan played on the blueline in the Tuesday game but was moved to forward for the winner-take-all match. The move was a difference maker as Sullivan potted four goals for AON.

“I guess it worked,” said Sullivan. “I scored four goals. It’s pretty great I guess, I came off of defence and they put me forward, I guess it paid off.”

The AON side was able to rally after getting shutout the night before. Sullivan said the message was simple in the dressing room.

“Not to lose,” said Sullivan who was then asked if there were any positives from their loss they could carry over to the final game. “No. We lost.”

To win, Sullivan said it was a team effort.

“We played very well,” said Sullivan. “All the guys came together and had a good game.”

Sullivan has played in the league for five years and was finally able to hoist the Oldtimers trophy and earn a beer cozy.

He said Medicine Chest gave them a good fight.

“They were a different team than the other night,” said Sullivan. “They put on a good fight and they played well as usual.”

AON got on the board first less than two minutes into the game. Sullivan took a cross-ice pass from David Wipf and made no mistake burying the puck over Hawkins.

Medicine Chest got on the scoreboard shortly after play resumed. Stu Mackay was left alone in front of Darryl Caan, the AON keeper, and took a feed from Peter Kirby. Mackay on his backhand slid the puck five-hole on Caan.

The Medicine Chest side controlled the early stages of the first-period hemming AON in their defensive zone and putting a lot of pucks on net.

Their offensive zone pressure paid off with a really fluky goal. Josh Turcotte took a feed in the neutral zone from Chris Nash. Turcotte carried the puck over the blue line and dumped the puck in deep.

The puck hit a stanchion and bounced out front of the net where it banked off of Caan’s skate and into the back of the net.

AON picked up the intensity near the end of the period and got the game squared at two heading into the second frame.

Sullivan took a nice feed from Wipf and broke in on Hawkins whom he beat short side. Blaine Demchuk added the other helper.

AON continued to have the momentum in the second scoring early again. Sullivan banged in a rebound off a scramble in front of the net. Wipf and Demchuck once again assisted.

The lead was short-lived for AON. Showing off his speed, Chris Carli knocked the puck away from the defenceman and broke in all alone on Caan. Going from his backhand to forehand he snapped the puck over Caan’s outstretched pad.

With the game tied at three, both teams pushed for the go-ahead goal. The game was back and forth as both sides generated quality chances on net. Hawkins and Caan were up to the challenge as each keeper made spectacular saves.

Nearing the midway point of the deciding frame AON got the puck in deep and started their cycle. Wipf, for his fourth assist of the night, won the puck battle and quickly got the puck to Demchuk who roofed it past Hawkins, who had no chance.

Down one and the clock ticking towards zero with the title on the line Medicine Chest began to press but could not solve Caan. Hawkins came to the bench for the extra attacker, but it was Sullivan, with one second remaining, scoring into the empty net.