Senior Provincial game goes into double overtime

Drake Canucks won game one of the best of three series with the defending Provincial A Senior Hockey Champions and the No. 1 senior hockey team in the province.

In the second overtime, Canucks forward John Lawrence took a forward pass from Cameron Blair and slipped under the blocker sidepad of Kindersley’s stalwart goalie Travis Child with a backhand shot. The Canucks won 3-2 in the 89th minute of a three and a half hour game.

Shayne Neigum led the charge for the away side from Kindersley, who were 1-0 up after the 1st period. He led the team in energy and shots, but the first goal actually came from Darian Dzuirzynski.

Neigum would not be held back that night. Just 1 minute after a disallowed goal in the second period, he scored the second for his team. After 40 minutes they were 2-0 up thanks to a full team effort, but Neigum had a little more momentum in his stride. He scored at 11:28 and Darian Dziurzynski got the assist.

Drake came in 3rd on a power play by 2. Layne Young for Kindersley received a hefty sentence with 10 seconds remaining in the second. Overall it was a fast skating, hard hitting game without a ton of penalties. Players fought for position in the face-off circle and warnings were issued. Both teams never gave up playing a very physical game and looked to assert dominance early in this series. The referees found the right balance by discussing the teams in scrums and applying penalties where necessary.

Canucks defenseman Eric Roy scored for Drake at 9:14 in the third. Assists went to Andrew Johnson and Austin Calladine. The goal that turned the tide and ended this game came just under 3 minutes later. John Lawrence went forward and covered it to the top right corner at 6:28. Assist went to Drake’s captain Cameron Blair who is originally from Drake and has been their top player for the last 4 years.

1st overtime didn’t solve anything, but the odds were 3-2 for Kindersley. The Klippers were very lucky with the puck in this overtime. It looked like they might end it after 18 seconds in the extra frame, with Canuck’s goalie Calvin Bartel out of position and Kindersley’s Kylar Hope just outside the door. In these game situations, Hope is definitely a player to have on your team. His game was outstanding in the first overtime. Drake’s 2 chances to end the game were a touch of a one-timer and a puck that hit the post.

About 9 minutes into the 5th period, Drake scored to end the game.

This one was back and forth all night. Calkins made some nice moves and had a chance to score in Drake’s End. In typical fashion, the game came back to Kindersley’s end after a very close decision at one end, with Drake’s second line center John Lawrence sealing the deal. Drake is the only Saskatchewan city to have won provincials in all four senior hockey divisions A/B/C/D.

Game 2 takes place on Thursday 23 February at 8:15am in Kindersley

Game 3 is scheduled for Sunday 25th February at 7pm in Drake.

We’ll be back on air tonight at 5:45pm with the Senior Klippers as they travel to Macklin for Game 2 of the SWHL Semifinals.

Drake Canucks

35. Calvin Bartel

30.Justin MacDonald

3. Catlin Gusikoski – scratches

4. Eric Roy

5.David Stumborg

6. Carter Hansen – scratches

7. Maguire Blair

8. Nayte zipper

9. Terell Draude

10. Austin MacDonald – Scratches

11.Zach Zadorozniak

12. Karstin MacDonald – scratches

14. Emmett Scheidt

15. Nolan Blair

16. Austin Calladine

17.Cameron Blair

18.Trey Daelick

19. Maguire Scheidt

20. Carter Coben

21. Steven Toporowski

22.Andrew Johnson

24. Travis Mayan

27. Isaac Schacher

28.John Lawrence

The Sportsplex at Drake was built in 1996. The city has about 350 inhabitants. They have a shooting range on the side of the curling rink called the Ententeich.

Kindersley Clippers

31. Travis child

33. Luke Sproule

2. Dustin Stevenson – scratches

4.Byron Ismond

5. Tate Page – scratch

7. Kyle Donaldson

8. Measure miskey

9. Troy Boisjoli – scratch

11.Damon McKenzie

13.Brandon Cummings

16.Johnny Calkins

17. Tyler Traptow

18. Deej MacGrath

19. Logan Stephenson

20. Dylan Georget – scratches

21. Jared Erickson

22.David Dziurzynski

23. Brody Ryberg

24. Darian Dziurzynski

25. Carson Grolla

26. Layne Young

27. Shaye Neigum

28. Kylar Hope

34.Josh Sim

71. Jackson Bauml