The Westlock Midget Warriors checked and chopped their way to a heavy-hitting 6-4 overtime victory against the Redwater Rush in Tier 4 1660 Hockey League playoff action on Friday, Feb. 26 at the Rotary Spirit Centre.
The win pushes Westlock through to Round 2 against Smoky Lake next week after claiming the two-game, total-goals series 11-10.
Westlock came into the game down a goal against the Rush and hungry for redemption after a tepid performance in Redwater on Feb. 23.
“The boys realized that with a two-game, total-point series, they were a little bit too relaxed,” head coach Rick Dutchak said.
“They realized today they only had three periods left and figured they didn’t bring it like they could the other night. They knew tonight is the night.”
A quick steal at the Warriors’ blue line led to Redwater, opening the scoring 1-0 at 18:16, but the Warriors answered quickly, beating the Rush goalie at 17:05 to tie the game. Early dominance, Dutchak said, was important for Westlock if they hoped to win the series.
“All we wanted to do was get tied by the end of the first and start working our way back.”
The Warriors wouldn’t get the series lead in the first, but their aggression paid off with another goal in the period’s dying moments to close the first up 2-1.
The Warriors began to build their lead, scoring another goal at 15:17 to make it 3-1 in the second. However, the Rush found a way to hang onto their one goal deficit, scoring seconds later.
The teams traded goals yet again and the Warriors kept their one-goal lead heading into the third.
“This was the hardest working team we’ve played against this year. They always give us a good run. We’ve got more talent, but these guys never stop working.”
Things got rough and tumble, and a penalty near the Warriors net gave Redwater the opening they needed, tying the game 4-4 with just 3:40 left.
The tie left Westlock one point down in the series 10-9 and on the ropes, but the boys rallied.
With 10 seconds left, the crowd held its breath and through the chaos Warriors captain Adam Hardinge emerged with the puck at Redwater’s blue line, skating hard. Winding up from the left corner, Hardinge snapped a quick shot up from the side of the net and with seven seconds, tied the series 10-10.
With the series tied, a five-minute period of sudden death overtime ensued.
“It’s always just one mistake, so you’ve got to keep forcing, forcing, forcing.”
An injury to a Redwater player midway through the period gave the Warriors a rest, just what they needed to freshen their legs.
“We had three lines set up,” Dutchak said. “At first we had everybody just try to get that goal. That’s kind of a mad panic. Everyone’s tired and we try to make up a couple more lines.”
Fresh from the break Warrior Ryan Hoogewoonink, lunged for Redwater’s net to score the series-winning goal at 3:02.
“The moment you let up, you see it all the time, that’s when it turns around,” Dutchak concluded.
