WESTLOCK — The Westlock U18 Warriors have downed the Barrhead U18 2 team in the latest round of North Eastern Alberta Hockey League (NEAHL) playoffs.
The two-game total point series between Westlock and Barrhead consisted of two games on March 2 and 3, with the first match taking place on Saturday at the Barrhead Agrena and the second game being played at the Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre on Sunday.
In Game 1, the Warriors came out hard in the first period, earning a 3-0 lead off of goals by Rhett Gerig, Jackson Rufiange and Jackson Churchill, with assists by Landon Brandl, Samuel Bowsfield and Cole Morin.
However, they ran into trouble in the second period. Despite goals by Owen Carter and Churchill (with assists by Rufiange and Dane Jespersen), Barrhead managed to bounce back with three of their own goals, leaving the score at 5-3.
In the third period, Barrhead managed three more goals while Westlock only scored one more thanks to Rhett Gerig, assisted by Samuel Bowsfield.
Now tied 6-6, whoever emerged the victor in Game 2 would move on to the next round of playoffs. Fortunately, Westlock seemed much more in control of this game, as evidenced by the shots on goal — 19 for Barrhead and 50 for Westlock.
Rufiange ended up scoring a hat trick with two goals in the first period and a third in the second. Carter assisted on all three goals, though Blake Despins, Carson Vervynck and Tuc Higgins also contributed assists.
Westlock's other four goals were scored by Garrett Felske on a power play in the second period, Rhett Gerig, Churchill and Morin, who also assisted on the Warriors' sixth goal. The other assists were attributed to Carter, Vervynck and Churchill.
Prior to this weekend, Westlock had downed the Wabasca Eagles in a two-game total point series on Feb. 24 and 25. The Warriors won the first match 8-5 but lost the second 5-4, giving them a two-goal victory.
The Warirors will next face off with the Whitecourt Wolverines this Friday, March 8 on the road and this Saturday, March 9 at the Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre.
