The Westside Warriors deserved a better fate.
The Prince George Spruce Kings scored two unanswered goals in the third period Saturday, both after controversial non-calls in snatching a single point in a 3-3 tie with the Warriors before a season high 1,392 fans at Royal LePage Place.
Connor Dempsey (8th), Max French (9th) and Garret t Skrbich (4th) scored to give the Warriors a 3-0 lead before the second period was three minutes old.
The Spruce Kings chipped away and got a goal from Jujha Khaira on a power-play 16 minutes into the middle frame to bring the Spruce Kings to with two.
Late in the period, Warriors defenceman Peter McIntosh was run into the side boards — no penalty was called, however, Warriors Izaak Berglund was fingered for roughing when he stood up for his teammate.
Paul De Jersey scored early in the third just five seconds after the penalty had expired to bring the Spruce Kings to within a single goal.
With the Warriors clinging to the one goal lead, Trevor Esau drilled Berglund into the corner boards, stole the loose puck and beat Dwayne Rodrigue from in close to even the score at 3-3 and force overtime.
Esau got away with what could have been a charging or boarding penalty. No call was made and the goal stood.
Warriors head coach Rylan Ferster was ejected soon after.
"If I'm a fan I don't think I got my money's worth," a visibly upset Ferster stated after the game.
"I'm not going to say a whole lot about it because I'll get in trouble if I say it so, I`ll let fans decide."
Ferster agreed that both hits were viscous.
"I'm not in a position to complain about the refereeing but, again, if I'm a fan am I happy? We had such a great crowd and are you happy when it's a factor in the game? I'm not sure."
The Warriors did have chances to win the game in overtime but were unable to capitalize on a four-on-three power play in the first overtime
period, one in which they outshot PG 8-0.
In the three-on-three period, both teams had good chances, the best off the stick of Shawn Hochhausen who was stopped from point-blank range by Spruce Kings netminder Ty Swabb in the dying seconds.
The Warriors were 0-6 on the power-play while the Spruce Kings went 1-6 with the man advantage.
"We certainly did have our chances to win and didn't and when you`re up 3-0 you want to close the team out and obviously we didn't do that and that makes it difficult," added Ferster.
"Maybe where we're at we'll take it."
Where the Warriors are at is sixth in the Interior Conference, a point up on Salmon Arm, three behind Prince George and five in back of fourth place Vernon.
They have picked up points in three straight games and four of five.
Over the past five games Westside has a 2-1-1-1 record.
They have played some of their best, most consistent hockey over the past few weeks and are starting to get the results to show for it.
The Warriors close out the first half of the season with three games in three nights next weekend.
They host Nanaimo Thursday and Merritt Saturday. In between they travel to Penticton Friday.
Saturday`s game also marked the Warriors annual teddy bear toss.
The Warriors collected more than 1,000 teddy bears for the Westside Community Food Bank, nearly double what was raised a year ago.
The stuffed animals will be cleaned and distributed by the food bank to families in need at Christmas.
Visit The General’s Report for Jon Zacks’ take on Saturday’s game.
