Another year, another stunning Interior Hockey League playoff upset by the R.E. Postill & Sons Orphans.
It was pretty much a carbon-copy of last post-season as the ninth-place Orphans upset the pennant-winning Teale Utility Canucks 5-4 in overtime Sunday night at Wesbild Centre.
The Orphans, who finished 25 points back of the Canucks, also shocked them in round 2 of the playoffs a year ago.
Defenceman Joe Dolling, with Orphan goalie Jason Silzer on the bench for a sixth attacker, equalized with 45 seconds left in regulation and then wired the winner 3:39 into the extra period.
The Orphans focussed on strong team defence to hold off the explosive Canucks, with blueliners Jamie Johannson and Ryan Kempton leading the way.
Dolling added an assist on Rob Bauml’s first-period goal, while Grady Gare, Jeremy Silzer and Jason McLeod also scored. Justin Nerling earned a pair of assists.
Seattle Thunderbird grad Tyler Quiring pulled the hat trick for the Canucks, who got 2+2 from former Vernon Laker sniper Jason Elders and two assists from Troy Killingbeck.
The Orphans opened the playoffs Saturday night with a 5-3 win over the eighth-place Silver Star Hitmen at Nor-Val Sports Centre.
Grady Gare scored twice and Bauml netted the winner with 3:29 left. Murray Vetsch opened the Orphans’ scoring and Leath Gare hit an empty net with 19 seconds remaining. Leath had two assists.
Waylon Folliott, Brad Semeschuk and Rhett Ballard replied for the Hitmen.
In Monday night action, ex-Viper Richard Jodoin scored three times as the second-place Re/Max Rangers thumped the Kal Sports Bar Blackhawks 9-3 at Priest Valley Arena.
Brad Kowalski, with 2+1, UBC T-Bird grad Tom Ouchi, Al Betton, ex-Vernon Laker Shawn Bourgeois and Dave Penner also scored for the Rangers, while Steve Ensing (2) and Sean Kober replied for the Hawks.
Tim Proctor, Glenn Mitchell and Rich Haldane each earned two assists for Re/Max.
Jake Stuchberry scored twice as the 12th-place Kal Tire Knights upset the fifth-place Godard Excavating Predators 5-4 in a shootout Saturday night at PV.
Stuchberry was the Knights’ fourth shooter and he beat Jordan Vallance for the winner. Kyle Engelmyer also connected for the Knights, while goalie Ryan Dutcher stopped three Preds while getting beat by Danny Stein.
Deryck Irmen and Will Besler also scored in regulation for Kal Tire, while Stein, Trevor Abel, Kenny Johnstone and Jordan Nixon replied for the Preds. Nixon forced the shootout with 1:25 left.
The fourth-place Royal LePage Whalers recorded a pair of wins, grounding Kal Tire 8-5 Sunday night at Wesbild after stuffing the last-place Maroons 6-2 Saturday at PV.
Jerry Reinhardt pocketed 2+2 and Bobby Nicholls and Steve Burke also scored twice as the Whalers beat the Knights. Curtis Wakelin added 1+3 and Jason Anderson also scored once. Cory Nicholson netted two helpers in front of James Scherck.
Curtis Summerfelt, with 2+1, Irmen, with 1+3, Cody Watson, with 1+2 and Stuchberry answered for the Knights.
Reinhardt also bagged two goals as the Whalers brushed back the Maroons. Wakelin counted 1+2, while other goals came from Mike Sutch, Nicholls and Denis Ouelette.
Cory Webb collected 3+2 as the Hawks opened with a 9-4 ambushing of M&K Ready-Mix Bruins Saturday at PV.
Matt Ertmoed had 2+1, Scott Wallace scored twice, Kober had 1+3 and Ensing had one goal. Sean Gracey had three assists.
Jason Kasper, Chris Church, Jaron Chasca and Mike Tew replied for the Bruins.
Mike Fochler recorded the hatty as the Sharks upended the Blue Jay Concrete Hornets 6-1 Sunday at PV.
Sam Pantaleo, Taylor Zoethout and Justin Glinsbockel completed the Sharks’ offence in front of Jordan Vallance. Mike Glowa countered for the Hornets.
