Dustin Cave couldn't have found a better time to score his first goal in a Westside Warriors uniform.
The bruising stay-at-home defenceman snapped a 4-4 tie with one of the stranger goals you'll see with less than seven minutes to go in regulation time to give the Warriors a 5-4 victory over the visiting Trail Smoke Eaters on Saturday.
Cave was getting ready to head off the ice for a line change when he backhanded the puck high in the air from the Smokies blue line toward the Trail net.
The puck apparently had some side spin, alluded Smokies netminder Lyndon Stanwood and found its way into the back of the net.
"It couldn't go in for a better kid. He's such a solid guy and he's come so far this year," says Warriors head coach Rylan Ferster.
"He's a very tough defenceman to be one-on-one against and he knows exactly who he is. Good things happen to good people."
Cave was also effective throwing his body around nailing Smokies forward Brent Baltus in front of the penalty box midway through the opening period.
Baltus was slow getting up and getting to the Trail bench but was able to stay in the game.
Brennan Clark led the way offensively for the Warriors with a goal and an assist. Max French, Shawn Hochhausen and Connor Dempsey also scored for the Warriors.
Hochhausen's goal just seven seconds into the second period established a Warriors team record for the fastest goal to start a period.
Erik Cooper had a pair for the Smoke eaters while defenceman Shane Paulsen picked up a goal and two assists.
The Warriors led 1-0 after one and built up two goal leads on two separate occasions in the middle frame only to see the Smokies eventually knot the score at 4-4.
Injuries depleted both rosters as the Warriors went with just 15 skaters while Trail, playing its third game in three nights, had just 13 skaters.
The Warriors were forced to go with 10 forwards including call-up Josh Ellis and five defencemen.
Forward Dru Morrison, who can play either position slid back to give the D-corps the fifth body.
Ferster says in some respects it's easier to run the bench with a depleted roster.
"We only had three lines so we're not going to line match because they didn't have enough over there. It's basically who's next," says Ferster.
"Who ever is at the door goes next."
The Warriors outshot Trail 48-36 in the loose, free-wheeling game.
James Leonard, who picked up his first career win in the BCHL a few weeks ago in Trail notched win number two Saturday making 32 saves in the process.
The win was the Warriors 20th of the season.
Westside closes out the home portion of the season next weekend when they entertain Chilliwack Friday and Vernon Saturday.
Check out The General’s Report for further coverage of the Westside Warriors Hockey Club.
