overtime to give the Warman Wildcats a 2-1 victory in a game played at the Legends Centre in Warman on March 11
If the first two games are any indication, the U18AAA playoffs series between the Warman Wildcats and the Prince Albert Mintos is going to be a barn-burner.
The two teams are tied at one win each with both games being decided in overtime.
Game one was at the Legends Centre in Warman on Friday, March 11.
If the play was any indication the Wildcats should have easily won the game. They outshot the visitors 42-17.
Away game star Ty Shumanski kept the Mintos in the game with a 40 save performance between the pipes.
Warman native Jordan Normand scored the Wildcats’ first ever playoff goal mid-way through the opening frame to give the home squad the early lead.
The shorthanded marker was a result of great puck control by the penalty kill unit. Mason Bueckert feathered a pass to defenceman Rylan Pearce, who neatly stickhanded his way through the Mintos before feeding a pass cross ice to Normand, who buried the disc in the back of the net.
The Wildcats were unsuccessful as they fought hard to get an insurance marker, outshooting Prince Albert 13-3 in the second period.
They continued the on- slaught with 15 shots on net in the third but came away with only two crossbars solidly hit and a grazed goalpost for their efforts.
Prince Albert’s Scott McLean tied the game up mid-way through the third period and the Warman fans were on the edge of their seats as a wrong bounce could mean a loss as the teams battled in overtime.
Jayden Jessiman secured the win as he blasted one past Shumanski to secure the win.
For the Lucky Lake native it was an early birthday present as he celebrated his eighteenth birthday on March 12.
Game two at the Art Hauser Centre Arena in Prince Albert on Sunday, March 13 took double overtime to decide the contest.
Prince Albert took an early lead on Van Taylor’s unassisted marker in the first period.
Wildcats Jeter Korte tied the game on an unassisted goal midway through the second period.
Danton Cox restored the Mintos lead late in the second period.
Warman’s Berg Weber tied the game in the third period with assists from Brody Mortensen and Jordan Normand.
Danton Cox gave the home squad the win on an unassisted effort in the second overtime period.
The series is set to resume Friday, March 18 at the Legends Centre in Warman, with an 8:00 p.m. scheduled start time.