WESTLOCK - Three-straight second-period goals in just under four minutes combined with “clutch” goaltending added up to a scrappy 4-1 road win for the Westlock Senior Warriors over the Devon Barons.
The Dec. 3 triumph improved the club to a 5-3-0-1 in the North Central Hockey League, good enough for third place behind the league-leading 8-1-0-0 Camrose Crush and the 7-0-0-1 Lacombe Generals, who sit in second, and a point ahead of the 5-4-1-0 Morinville Kings, a team they’ll face Dec. 10 in Morinville.
After a lacklustre first period, which saw them fall behind 1-0, the Warriors were all business in the second firing 21 shots at the Baron net and notching goals from Mike Ivey, Zach Mills and Mathew Peddie in a span of 3:45 to go up 3-1. The third period was decidedly nasty as the refs handed out 46 minutes in penalties, while Scott Ivey was able to tickle the twine at 16:09 to make the final 4-1.
Warriors keeper Chase Langdale was named the game’s first star, turning aside 24 shots, while Taylor Heck, who ended the night with a pair of assists, got the nod as third star.
Captain Mike Ivey agreed that after a slow start, they buckled down and imposed their will on the Barons, who now sit a 1-4-0-2. He also credited Langdale “who had a great game” and made some “huge saves” throughout the contest.
“We’re feeling good about the win, every two points is big for us. We really took it to them in the second and got some big goals that got us going,” said Ivey. “And Chase was massive for us. He made some timely saves that kept us from falling further behind.”
The Warriors will now look to get some revenge when they face the Kings on Saturday night in Morinville, a club they fell to 5-3 Oct. 29 at home. Ivey expects another test as the Kings always play them tough.
“The standings are so tight but this is definitely a rivalry game, and they beat us at home last time so we’re looking to get a little payback,” he added.
