The Westside Warriors fought back but couldn’t quite close, in a 3-2 double overtime defeat in Vernon on Saturday night.
Facing a Vipers squad desperate for points, the Warriors fell behind by 1-0 and 2-1 scorelines, only to tie the game up and send it to extra time.
However, despite a busy week that included four games in five days, the Vipers found a way to clinch the extra point when Captain Patrick McGillis fired through traffic and past Dwayne Rodrigue early in the second overtime stanza. The winning goal was scored four-on-four, just after the Warriors had killed off a tripping minor to Peter MacIntosh.
But while their penalty kill stood tall in OT, special teams may have been what let the Warriors down on the night.
Both Vipers goals in regulation time were scored on the powerplay, while Westside was held off the board on 8 opportunities – including a 4-on-3 advantage in the first overtime.
“They’re a really good penalty killing team” says Seb Lloyd of the powerplay’s goose egg. “They always have their sticks in the lane,” noting “we tried to force it a bit at times and were maybe standing a little too still.”
Lloyd also had high praise for Westside netminder Dwayne Rodrigue, who made several four-alarm saves to keep his team in the game. “Unbelievable game again” Lloyd declared, adding “he gives us a chance to win every night.”
Rodrigue made 41 saves in the defeat, while Kirby Halcrow stopped 31 Warriors shots in the victory.
Travis Blanleil and Max French scored Westside’s goals on the night, while Michael Zalewski and Aaron Hadley tallied in regulation time for Vernon.
Still, despite the loss, Lloyd admitted that Saturday’s tilt was a fun game to be a part of – played at a high tempo, in front of an energized building, and with a palpable playoff atmosphere.
“You can’t ask for any more as a junior hockey player than playing in a game like this” he affirmed.
Westside has a quick turnaround, returning home to duel Chilliwack on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Find further coverage of the Westside Warriors at The General’s Report.
