The OCN Blizzard downed the Waywayseecappo Wolverines 4-3 in a shootout on Halloween night, after the Wolverines comeback fell just short.
After a trio of unsuccessful power plays for the Wolverines, it was the Blizzard who would strike first after Isaac LaBelle made a pair of outstanding saves. James Maxwell was in the right spot and whacked home the rebound to put the Blizzard in front 1-0 after the first period.
The Wolverines had a bit more jump in their step to open the second period. Getting a pair of quality chances on the powerplay, they just couldn’t get one past Giesbrecht. Talon Thomas gave OCN a 2-0 lead when he scored on an unassited marker just 8:57 into the second.
The Wolverines would end up capitalizing on a second-period powerplay opportunity when Preston Seymour put home the rebound to cut the Blizzard lead to one. Jaymes Knee continued to stay hot for Waywayseecappo, picking up an assist on the play while Kylar Fenton picked up the secondary helper.
The Wolverines one-goal lead sure wouldn’t last long as Tony Apetagon would score OCN’s second unassisted goal of the night to regain their two-goal lead. Waywayseecappo would get one more powerplay chance before the second-period buzzer rang, but couldn’t quite get anything going.
Entering the third period, the Wolverines led the shot-clock 23-17 and would continue to press until Morgan Poirier scored to make it 3-2, still in favor of OCN. Xavier Halterman and Caleb Paisley got on the score sheet, each adding an assist on the play.
Heading to their seventh man-advantage of the night, Jack Kennedy would tie the game at 3-3 when he beat Giesbrecht for his third of the season. Once again, it would be Jaymes Knee and Kylar Fenton adding the helpers on the scoring play.
Despite the Wolverines taking a late penalty, they were able to kill it off, sending the game to extra time. Overtime would solve nothing after both teams exchanged chances going end to end in a thrilling extra frame.
Through five skaters in the shoot-out, both goalies stayed nearly perfect until Sequoia Swan squeaked one through LaBelle’s five-hole, giving OCN the 3-2 shoot-out victory.
Isaac LaBelle stopped 28 of 31 in the loss while the Wolverines powerplay went 2 for 7.
With the loss, the Wolverines fall to 9-7-1-1 and will have a day off before traveling to Neepawa on Friday night to take on the Natives.