The 100 Mile House Wranglers defeated their division rivals the Kamloops Storm 4-3 in overtime as well as blew out the Sicamous Eagles 9-4 at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre.
The Wranglers started the game against the Kamloops Storm by scoring at 15:55 into the first period thanks to a power play goal by Matthew Balderston, assisted by Brodie Gohmann and Aydan Wang. The power-play was the result of a penalty by Aaron Zulinick of the Kamloops Storm for interference. The Wranglers were not done yet - at 7:22 in the first period, Everett Boutcher scored, assisted by Kole Duquette and Jaden Rusznak. Wranglers were up 2-0 by the end of the first period, but the Storm responded in the second.
At around 5:02 in the second period, Ryan Larsen, with a goal assisted by Aaron Zulinick and Braycen Dube, ended Jaidyn Shaw's shut-out. Not even being short-handed stopped them: at around 2:49 left in the second, Ryan Larsen scored a short-handed unassisted goal to tie the game - as Riddick Feely was serving a double minor penalty for high sticking. The game was tied 2-2.
Despite the shut-out being ended, head coach and general manager of the 100 Mile House Wranglers Levi Stuart has praised the goaltending throughout the game.
"I think he made some huge saves that kept us from losing, and helping us make sure we had a chance to win the game." Stuart said, praising Jaidyn Shaw.
The Wranglers, in the third period, responded to the Storm's surge - by scoring another power play goal. Dawson Harden - at 18:41 in the third, scored, assisted by Nelson Webster and Everett Boutcher. The penalty this time was a charging penalty that Nikolas Dimopoulos took in the second period that had carried itself to the third period.
However, the Storm did not stop and let up: at 3:31 in the third period, Kade Lawlor, assisted by Nikolas Dimopoulos and Carson Reagan, scored, tying the game up at 3-3.
"We thought for the most part, we did a good job of shutting those top guys down, but still - some work to be improved upon, with letting them score late to tie it up." Levi Stuart stated.
The game would go to overtime, where with 2:02 left, Jaden Rusznak ended the Storm's chances of winning by scoring - assisted by Ethan Davey. 632 people went to the South Cariboo Recreation Centre for the game.
Despite the overtime win, the fact that the game ended as such did not sit well with the Wranglers players, according to head coach Levi Stuart - because a overtime win would give Kamloops one point.
"Leaves a bit of a bad feeling in the stomach, but at the end of the day, we're still happy that we're able to come out with the win." Stuart explained. He added that it was a learning lesson for the Wranglers players that they needed to hold onto leads. Stuart did praise Jaden Rusznak, stating he had a really strong second half after being challenged to be better.
"That was great to see him get rewarded." Stuart said, praising him for the overtime goal.
The next day, the Wranglers faced off against the Sicamous Eagles - and unlike the last game, it was not even that close. The first period saw the Wranglers fire off immediately at the hapless Eagles, going up 2-0 thanks to goals by Jaden Rusznak (assisted by Everett Boutcher and Bronson Parker) and Alberto Kellgren (assisted by Brett Woodard and Alex Crowe-Nippi), both scored at 12:11 and 9:23 respectively. The Wranglers then went up 3-0 thanks to a goal at 7:48 in the first by Landen Janz, assisted by Luke McFarlane and Kole Duquette.
However, it was not all bad for the Eagles - at 5:38 Nick Wright scored, assisted by Walker Overwater, making the game 3-1. At the second period, however, it got worse for Sicamous: at 10:13 Matthew Balderston scored, assisted by Kayden Stark and Landen Janz, and then, the Wranglers scored a power-play goal (after Tysen Anderson was penalized for roughing), with Brodie Gohmann scoring assisted by Matthew Balderston and Landen Janz with 5:29 remaining. This made it 5-1. Then, at 4:30 in the second, Ashton Angle scored for the Eagles, assisted by Hayden Evans, to make it 5-2, although the Wranglers snuffed that out by scoring - with Ethan Davey getting a goal assisted by Everett Boutcher to make it 6-2. Eagles got one on a power-play, with Austin Horbachewsky scoring, assisted by Walker Overwater and Clayton Gillmore to make it 6-3.
Stuart says that the team had let it slip for a few minutes that had allowed the Eagles to score.
"We think we should be able to clean it up, and that just comes down to defensive awareness." Stuart noted.
The third period saw several penalties, as well as the Wranglers adding to their blow-out: with Jaden Ruzsnak scoring on a penalty taken by the Eagles for too many men on the ice - with Walker Overwater serving the penalty - making it 7-3. Eagles would get a goal, with Alexander Leskiw scoring, assisted by Reyd Langan and Hayden Evans, around 6:06, - making it 7-4 - but then it was all Wranglers: Ethan Davey (assisted by Jaden Ruzsnak) scored with 3:16 left, and Aydan Wang scored (assisted by Bronson Parker) to make it 9-4, which ended up being the final score.
Stuart says that the person who helped the team win that game was Ethan Davey, the captain.
"He's taken some big steps for us as a leader for us." Stuart said, about him.
The Wranglers will be hosting the Princeton Posse on Nov. 9 at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre, and then will be travelling to take on division rival Chase to take on the Heat at the Art Holding Memorial Arena on Nov. 10. The Princeton game starts at 7:00 p.m., while the Chase game starts at 5:00 p.m.
