The Westlock midget Warriors earned their first win of the 2013-2014 season with a rousing 3-2 win in front of the home crowd Friday night.
Playing against the Wabamun Wildcats at the Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre on Dec. 13, the Warriors scored late in each period to earn the win, raising their record to 1-4-1 on the season.
The Warriors saw their record drop to 1-5-1 when they lost 6-4 on the road in Onoway on Dec. 14.
A large part of Friday’s win was the team’s discipline as the game wore on, said coach Shane Boulerice.
“We stayed out of the box,” he said. “Usually we fall apart in close games.”
Boulerice also chalked the win up to the Warriors’ strong forecheck, and their ability to keep the Wildcats on the outside.
“The biggest was how we were able to move the puck,” he added.
The game-winning goal came courtesy of Madison Vekved with just under two minutes to play in the third period. Vekved took a pass from Steven Mayowski and broke in on the Wabamun net, deking out the goalie and putting the puck into the open cage.
In order to come out with the win, the Warriors needed to launch two separate comebacks.
Only 38 seconds into the game, the Warriors found themselves trailing when Wabamun scored to make it 1-0.
Vekved’s first of the game at the 17:15 mark of the opening frame tied things 1-1 heading into the second period. Zach Lafontaine had the assist.
In the second, the Wildcats took a 2-1 lead with a goal at 4:58.
Spencer Blades got the Warriors back on even terms at the 17:47 mark, sending the teams into the second intermission 2-2. Lafontaine once again earned the assist.
The third was a quiet period, with neither team able to find the tie-breaking goal for the longest time. That all changed when Jordan Boulerice started a rush, passing to Mayowski, whose pass to Vekved turned into the Warriors’ third and final goal at 18:09.
Although the Warriors were able to notch their first win of the season, Boulerice said the team isn’t quite there yet.
“We’re not where I wanted to be at Christmas, but we’re getting better,” he said.
