It’s one that won’t soon be forgotten for the 400-plus fans in attendance at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre on Feb. 24.
The 100 Mile House Wranglers seemed to have Game 4 in the bag with six seconds left on the clock and a one goal lead. Then the Chase Heat got the puck off the draw in the Wranglers end and onto the stick of one of their most prolific scorers, Kaleb Boyle, who lifted it past Wranglers goalie Kristian Stead with three seconds left, sending the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoff series into over time.
Following a breathless 28 minutes of free hockey, the Heat, on their 50th shot of the night, lit the lamp, knotting the series between the Doug Birks Division clubs at two games a piece.
Coach Dale Hladun says the Wranglers and Heat have all year been playing back and fourth and overtime hockey games. So a tight post season series is to be expected.
“As much as you want to win the series early, I recognize it will probably be a six or seven game series. You have to be realistic. They have some good offense. They came at us hard. We had them cornered. When you corner any animal, they’re going to fight harder.”
Following a scoreless first frame, it was Austin Turner notching the game’s first for 100 Mile House, stabbing the the puck past Chase goalie Nic Bruyere from the front of the crease.
Wranglers captain Devan Suidy set up Liam Cumberbirch for the game’s second goal, swinging around the net and finding Cumberbirch alone in front. Chase scored to open the third, but Nick McCabe, from Stephen Egan, answered back, giving the Wranglers a 3-1 cushion. Chase scored again three minutes later, with 12:10 remaining, to make it 3-2.
If the tying goal with three seconds left was a stunner, the winning goal in overtime was a momentary heartbreaker. Following 28 minutes of tense extra time, the Heat’s Cole Perison beat Stead in the second overtime period.
Game 5 is tonight (Feb. 26) in Chase.
Game 6 is Feb. 27 in 100 Mile House.
Game 7 (if necessary) is Feb. 28 in Chase.
Looking ahead to those games, Hladun says you can’t dwell on the past.
“They scored on us late and that upset the guys. Well, what are you going to do? Let’s focus on our task and not what happened. We learn from what happened and we focus on what we have to do.”
Haldun adds: “I’m not disappointed in our guys at all. You’re never happy with a loss, but the character and effort in the dressing room is fine. I look forward to this next best-of-three series.”
The Wranglers took Game 3, 4-1, on home ice, Feb. 23.
Game 2, on Feb. 21, saw Chase win 5-2 at home.
In Game 1, it was local boy Cole Zimmerman notching the game-winner, 4-3, in double overtime for the Wranglers on Feb. 20.
