Evan Stack was credited with the game winning goal 3:10 into overtime as the Merritt Centennials edged the Westside Warriors 2-1 in pre-season BCHL action Saturday at Royal LePage Place.
Stack's shot from in close beat Warriors netminder Ethan Wood but appeared to hit the cross bar and drop under Wood in the goal crease. The goal light never came on.
Despite the tough ending, Warriors head coach Rylan Ferster was pleased with the effort put out by his team.
Ferster dressed a young line-up made up mainly of players battling for a chance to find a spot on the roster.
While a majority will make their way to midget or junior B teams, Ferster says the group made those decisions tough on the coaching staff.
"We'll go through it now but we had some guys play real good tonight so those decisions will be tough," says Ferster.
"I really liked our work ethic and our compete level and to come back and score a goal with 13 seconds left, I think it was good and I think our kids worked hard."
The Warriors trailed 1-0 until 16-year-old Evan Anderson tied the game up in the dying seconds.
With Wood on the bench for an extra attacker and the Warriors on a power-play, Anderson banged home a rebound from a mad scramble in front of the Centennials net with just over 13 second left in regulation to tie the game and force overtime.
T.J. Dumonceaux had the best chance for the Warriors in the extra period, however Lino Chimienti was able to get his stick on Dumonceaux's cross crease forehand attempt.
Stack's winner came just 80 seconds after the Warriors were caught with too many men on the ice.
Wood and Brandon Lane split the netminding chores for the Warriors.
Lane played the first half, turning aside all 10 shots he faced.
Wood played the second half and overtime giving up both Centennials goals on 12 shots.
Visit The General's Report for more reaction to the game and an interview with 16 year-old Adam Plant.
The Warriors the practice all week before continuing pre-season play next weekend with games in Vernon Friday before returning home to host the Salmon Arm Silverbacks Saturday at Royal LePage Place.
