Taking an early lead was just what the Westlock midget Warriors needed as they earned their second win of the season Friday night.
Hosting Onoway at the Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre on Jan. 24, the Warriors jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period en route to a 6-1 victory.
“It was a good game,” said coach Shane Boulerice. “Everything we’ve been working on in practice came around — strong possession, better defence. It was an all around good game.”
Player Steven Mayowski said he thought the Warriors played one of their better games.
“We moved our feet lots, and did our best on the back check to take away their chances,” he said.
The key to the win was getting the first goal, he said, adding it’s easier to play when you’re ahead instead of trailing.
The Warriors’ first goal came courtesy of Jordan Boulerice at the 9:17 mark of the first period; Adam Hardinge had the lone assist.
Dylan Boutin doubled the Warriors’ lead at 10:16, with Hardinge once again earning an assist.
After 20 minutes, it was 2-0 Westlock, with much of the credit going to goalie Dylan Geiger, who turned aside 20 Onoway shots in the frame.
The second period was scoreless, again thanks to Geiger, who did not let any of the 12 Onoway shots he faced in the period past him.
In the third, the floodgates opened 5:27 into the frame when Onoway finally got on the board.
However, the one-goal lead Westlock held following the goal lasted all of 26 seconds. Boulerice notched his second of the game at 5:53 to give his team a 3-1 lead. Hardinge and Mack Schiller drew the assists.
Boulerice’s hattrick goal at 13:52 (assist to Trevor Dirks), a Hardinge goal at 16:56 (assists to Dirks and Boulerice) and Andrew vandeLigt scoring at 17:16 (assist to Ryan Archer) gave the Warriors the 6-1 win.
Mayowski credited the onslaught of goals in the third to the Warriors responding quickly after Onoway getting on the board.
He also gave credit to Geiger, who turned away 43 of the 44 shots he faced.
“He was great; he kept us up when the game was close,” Mayowski said.
The Warriors return to the ice on Jan. 28 when they host a rematch with Onoway at 7:30 p.m.
