Hockey season underway for NACI Tigers
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- Published on Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Photo by Eoin Devereux. Will Birnie (6) and the rest of the NACI Tigers were able to outlast the Birtle Falcons in their regular season home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at the Yellowhead Centre.
By Tony Eu
Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press
The NACI Tigers’ home opener, which took place on Wednesday, Nov. 2 against the Birtle Falcons, was a nail biting game. The Tigers started off strong, leading the first period 2-1. They followed that with another 2-1 period, putting the Tigers in the lead by a strong two-point buffer at the end of the second period.
Coming into the third period at 4-2 for the Tigers, it looked like the Falcons were going home without the win. However, in a turn of events, the Birtle team managed to shut out the Tigers in the third period, while scoring two goals of their own, bringing the game to a draw.
The stalemate continued through both overtimes, with neither team able to score a goal and secure victory. With both teams still locked at 4-4 at the end of the second overtime, the game went to a shootout. The shootout saw Neepawa slip one by the Falcons goalie, securing victory for the home team.
The Tigers had two power play chances throughout the game, but were unable to utilize those chances to secure the game without overtime. Dylan Oshanyk, Ryan Kostenchuk, Ben Rainka and Tysne Stanski each claimed a goal for the Tigers. Rainka also earned an assist, while Jesse Jones earned two.
For the Falcons, Jayden Vinnie-Clow and Tanner Dutcawich each scored one goal, while Brody Robinson netted the other two. As for assists, Dutcawich and James Maddess each had one and Logan Wotton had two.
That weekend, on Sunday, Nov. 6, the NACI Tigers hockey team traveled to Deloraine to face off against the Colts, hoping to shake off their loss against Minnedosa from Friday. By the end of the first period, the score was 2-1 for the Tigers, giving them a one-point advantage. Unfortunately, this advantage didn’t last long.
In the second period, the Colts outscored the Tigers 3 to 1, putting the total score at the end of the period at 4-3, with the Colts in the lead. The Tigers were unable to reverse the score, as the Colts carried their momentum to another 3-1 period in the third, leading the Tigers to fall 4-7 by the final whistle.
For the Tigers, the spread of goals was evenly divided, with four different players landing the team’s four goals. Will Rainka, Brennan Wiebe, Wiley Speiss and Ben Rainka were the scoring players, while Will Birnie, Will Rainka, Baren Mitchler, Landon Young and Jesse Jones earned the assists.
On the Colts side, the goals were gathered by a smaller group. Eric Sorensen scored one, Brendin Hammond notched two and Kolby Chen drove four goals into the net. The seven goals were assisted by Cole Thomas (one assist), Brayden Teetaert (two), Tanner Ardron (three), Tyler Beernaert (one), Jack Kelm (one), Grady Franklin (two) and Jesse Skelton (one).
During the game, the Tigers had one power play, while the Colts had two. However, neither team managed to capitalize on the opportunity.
In the end, the Tigers just couldn’t keep up with the Colts. The Tigers next face off is against the GBC Wildcats in a home game on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 7:15 p.m.
