Saskatoon Royals forward Jakob Atkinson’s second goal of the game 18 minutes into the first overtime period of Prairie Junior Hockey League (PJHL) playoff game at Rod Hamm Arena on Sunday, February 27 abruptly ended the Delisle Chiefs season.
With the 3-2 win the Royals took the best of three series in two games straight.
The two teams were very evenly matched and the result could have gone either way.
Game one was held in Delisle.
The Royals got a quick start as Ronan Rheaume scored 19 seconds into the game.
PJHL Rookie of the Year, Kyle Heintz, tied the score on a setup by Chad Westman and Kylen Taphorn. Heintz returned the favour setting up Taphorn to give the home squad the lead. Nic Prediger added a third goal before the end of the first period with assists from Chad Westman and Tyson Tuck.
Jakob Atkinson’s unassisted marker pulled the Royals within one.
Troy Kosmynka found the twine after being set up by Westman and Taphorn.
The Royals tied the game on goals by Michael Kunz and Luke Stadnyk before the end of the second period.
Caley Lehouillier restored the Chiefs’ lead early in the third period on a pass from Chad Westman.
Hague’s Darius Sawatzky tied the game for the Royals with three minutes left in the game and Nate Bentman crushed the home crowd as he gave the Royals a 6-5 win on his goal with one minute remaing in the game.
It was a very determined Chiefs squad that stepped onto the ice in Saskatoon for game two. A victory was needed to get a game three back to Delisle.
The teams battled back and forth for most of the first period. Fast action and great goaltending had the large crowd on the edge of their seats.
Royals Jakob Atkinson finally was able to get the Royals on the scoreboard with a late first period goal.
Chiefs captain Chad Westman tied the game with a minute left in that period.
The second period remained scoreless until Westman netted a short-handed marker with one second remaining.
The Chiefs were able to hold of the Royals’ attempt to tie for most of the third period until they ran into penalty trouble in the last few minutes. Three straight penalties sealed their fate, leaving room for a Royals comeback.
Royals Connor Long scored on a two-man powerplay advantage to send the game into overtime.
The Chiefs had good pressure for most of the overtime including a shot off the crossbar. Two times Chiefs sniper Kyle Heintz had a shot from the slot but Royals goaltender Pierson Marquette was up to the task.
Jakob Atkinson delivered the dagger with his goal with 2:12 left in the overtime.
It was not the ending that the Chiefs were working for,but there was no doubt they left it all on the ice.