LACOMBE – With the game tied 3-3 late in the third period and the Innisfail Eagles shorthanded, the Birds snatched victory away from the pressing defending Vanberg Cup champion Lacombe Generals in Game 1 of the North Central Hockey League (NCHL) finals.
The game, held on March 8 before a near sell-out crowd at Lacombe’s Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex, began with both teams playing tentatively but by the mid-point of the first period it morphed into an old-time barn burning classic between equally skilled longtime rivals determined to seize senior men’s hockey supremacy.
The Eagles had one goal leads in each period but the Generals roared back each time to tie the game.
It was not until the Birds’ Tyler Berkholtz, with big help from teammate Quintin Lisoway, scored a shorthanded goal with just 1:36 remaining in regulation did a final score seem possible without overtime.
“It was all Lisoway. He worked his butt off, broke it down at the other end, stripped the D-man of the puck and passed it to me in the slot and I found a way to go five-hole,” said Berkholtz, acknowledging the win was “huge” but with more still needed.
“We only got to win three more. They got to win four,” said Berkholtz. “It just makes it a little bit easier for us down the road, but it's a huge confidence builder.”
Berkholtz’s goal gave the Birds a 4-3 lead.
With just 41 seconds remaining Chase Thudium added an empty net goal to give Innisfail a well deserved 5-3 victory to take the first game of the best of seven NCHL finals.
The Birds opened the game’s scoring on an unassisted goal by Mike Marianchuk with just under two minutes remaining in the first period.
Less than a minute later the Generals’ Craig Gans scored, and it was tied 1-1 after one period.
In the second the Eagles went ahead 2-1 at 18:57 when Dave Nippard found the back of the Generals’ net.
Six minutes later at 12:52 Lacombe’s Bryce Wilson got a shot past Eagles’s netminder Chance Griffith and it was 2-2 after 40 minutes.
In the third period Lisoway scored with just under five minutes remaining in regulation to give Innisfail a 3-2 lead.
But with 3:22 remaining Gans scored his second of the game and the tie was back on at 3-3.
Overtime briefly seemed imminent, but Berkholtz’s timely shorthanded goal sealed the deal for the Birds.
It must be said the Eagles’ Chance Griffith had another outstanding night in the net.
Deep in the second period the Generals had outshot the Eagles by a margin of two to one but by the end of the game Lacombe only had an edge of 39 to 38.
“We had a lot of challenges getting the puck to the net,” said Eagles head coach Ryan Dodd. “In the third period, we did a lot better at just putting pucks on net and getting to the net and trying to create a ruckus in front of them.
“We knew we could win. We got a great hockey club here, and everybody believes in themselves,” added Dodd. “You get that first one and it just builds that confidence.
“We got a game back there (Innisfail) next weekend, and the guys are going to come ready to go to war and just do another job and get it done.”
Lacombe head coach Travis Yonkman said overall his Generals played a “pretty good game” but too many turnovers by his team and the Eagles’ ability to find another gear made the difference in the final outcome.
“They (Eagles) found a second gear, and we were slow getting that gear. We did find it but too little too late,” said Yonkman. “The last six minutes we really put some pressure on and getting that power play with four minutes left, we ended up tying it.
“And then, another turnover that turned into a (Eagles) goal in the back of the net.”
Game 2 is scheduled for the Innisfail Twin Arena at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 15.
On Sunday, March 16, it’s back to Lacombe for an afternoon game. Puck drop is 2:30 p.m.
