WESTLOCK — Sadly, the Westlock U18 Warriors’ hopes of earning a championship from their first year in the North Eastern Alberta Hockey League (NEAHL) came to a crashing halt this weekend, as they were downed in two straight games by the Elk Point Avalanche.
In a best-of-three series on March 8-10, the Warriors had won the West District of the NEAHL by defeating Whitecourt in two close games that went into three periods of overtime.
Likewise, Elk Point had won the East District by defeating the Onion Lake Border Chiefs in two straight games, setting Westlock and Elk Point up to battle it out for the league championship.
The Warriors first travelled to Elk Point on March 15 for Game 1 of the series. The Avalanche gained an early 1-0 lead off a power play about five and a half minutes into the first period, but the Warriors were able to tie up the score with a goal by Blake Despins with 11:27 remaining. Jackson Churchill and Cole Morin both assisted.
Unfortunately, that tie didn’t last long, as Elk Point scored two more goals in the first, three goals in the second and another two goals in the third period to gain an insurmountable 8-1 lead.
Westlock was only able to add one more goal with 4:23 remaining on the clock with a power play goal by Samuel Bowsfield, assisted by Despins and Owen Carter.
Westlock’s two goalies, Charles Gardon and Andrew Jimmo, faced 44 shots on goal, while Elk Point’s goalie stopped 31 of 33 shots.
Returning to the Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre on March 16, the Warriors put up a much stronger fight against the Avalanche and held them to two goals in the first period and none in the second.
Meanwhile, Jackson Churchill and Rhett Gerig scored power play goals in the second period to tie the score. (Assists were contributed by Gerig, Garner St. Arnaud, Garrett Felske and Owen Wolff.)
In the third period, however, Elk Point fired back with three more goals to win the game 5-2. Gardon stayed in net all game for the Warriors, blocking 27 of 32 shots from Elk Point.
On the Westlock Minor Hockey Association's Facebook page, a message was posted extending congratulations to Elk Point and wishing them luck at the U18 Tier III provincials in Mallaig from March 28-31.
