After a tight first two periods, the Westlock Bantam 1 Warriors surged ahead to a 6-3 victory over the visiting Fort Saskatchewan Bantam team on Saturday night at the Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre.
Fort Saskatchewan took the lead in Saturday’s league game, going into the second period with a 2-1 lead. Ben Carlson scored Westlock’s only goal with an assist by Josh Reagan.
Westlock battled back in the second, finishing out the second period with a 4-3 lead. Hayden Dick, Addison Weir and Josh Reagan all had goals that period, with assists being credited to Josh, Weir, James Oloske, Dick and Lauren Wylie.
Things looked a bit chancy at the end of the second period as two of Westlock’s players were sitting in the penalty box, but they managed to hold out while Fort Saskatchewan ran into penalty trouble themselves.
Ethan Vekved and Josh Reagan each had unassisted goals for Westlock that period to clinch the 6-3 victory.
Coach Des Reagan said the Westlock team didn’t start out very well that night and they took too many penalties, but their penalty kill was strong and they had a good third period.
Coach Reagan said the team are currently still in league play with about four league games left. However, they are sitting in first place with a 13-2-1 record.
He noted they recently won their first round of provincials – a two-game total-point series - versus Onoway.
Onoway had actually beaten Westlock in their first game, but the Bantam squad came out in full force during their second match and downed Onoway 5-0.
Reagan said their loss against Onoway was a good thing, as the Westlock team had won 10 straight games before then and were feeling over-confident.
“We needed to lose,” he said. “It was a good loss, if there is such a thing.”
Reagan said they were awaiting the winner of a provincial series between Drayton valley and Barrhead. The winner will go on to play Edson, and whoever is left at the end of that match-up will go up against Westlock.
