By COLBY STOESZ
The Martensville faithful were treated to a shootout on Sunday, October 20, as the U15AA Marauders tied their game against the Saskatoon Generals 5-5. The Marauders rifled off an astounding 51 shots over regulation and overtime, but ultimately couldn’t distance themselves from the Generals.
Saskatoon got on the board first early in the opening period, as Ty Nochowny scored short-handed. The Marauders evened the score 10 minutes later, with Reid Wotherspoon grabbing his first goal of the season. After the opening frame, the game was deadlocked at one apiece.
Saskatoon once again broke the tie, as Lucas Millar found the back of the net on the man-advantage for his 11th goal of the season. Martensville soon answered with a Dawson Baht score, assisted by Paxton Hale and Bentley Burnouf to make it 2-2.
Reid Wotherspoon gave the Marauders their first lead of the game, scoring his second goal of the afternoon with help from Weston Kostiuk. Martensville’s lead was short-lived, as Kiptyn Kennedy scored just 28 seconds later to tie the game 3-3 after two periods.
The Generals once again claimed the lead early in the third frame, as Wyatt Bitz scored unassisted to make it 3-4 in favour of the visitors. Haaken Flodell, assisted by Baht and Wotherspoon, tied the game less than two minutes later on the power-play.
With the game locked at 4-4 and the clock dwindling, every shot counted late in the third period. The Generals struck first, as Cohen Hepburn scored with less than six minutes to play. Minutes later, Reid Wotherspoon completed his hat-trick and sent the game to overtime.
The barrage of goals came to a halt in overtime. Neither team was able to find the back of the net, and the game finished tied at 5-5.
Reid Wotherspoon led the charge for the Marauders, finishing with a trio of goals and an assist. Kostiuk and Baht both finished with two points. Goalie David Tews faced 38 shots over 65 minutes of play, stopping 33 for a save percentage of .868.
The tie keeps the U15 Marauders in the middle of the North Division standings, as they now hold a record of 3-2-0-1. They’ll host the Prince Albert Venice House Pirates on November 2 when they next take the ice.