Two teams were looking to rebound from disappointing losses to open their tournament as the Spruce Grove Saints took on the Melfort Mustangs.
Melfort Mustangs (0-1-0) vs. Spruce Grove Saints (0-1-0)
Spruce Grove drops a heartbreaker in overtime 4-3 to Melfort.
Both teams would find the back of the net in a defensive first frame. Landon Robin (assist to Dawven Berggren @4:48) snapped his first of the tournament short side on Saints (starting) goaltender Matthew Murray. Parker Mackay (assists to Jarid Hauptman and Cole Nicholson @13:11) would tie the game wiring his first of the round robin over the glove of Mustangs (starting) goaltender Richard Palmer. Shots favored Spruce Grove 6-5.
Melfort would get the lone goal in the second to take a 2-1 lead. Landon Robin (assist to Dakota Boutin @2:20) squeezed his second of the night between the wickets of Murray. Shots were 12-11 Saints in the second and 18-16 in the hockey game.
Spruce Grove would outscore Melfort 2-1 in the third to force overtime. Connor James (assists to Conner Lukan and Lukas Biensch @15:24) wired his first of the round robin from the top of the slot to tie the game 2-2. Justin Boyer (assists to Dawven Berggren and Luc Lemire @18:32) picked up the loose puck and snipped his second of the tournament into the open side of the net. Right off the faceoff Riley Simpson (assists to Parker Mackay and Jarid Hauptman @19:46) would drive to the net and pot his first of the WCC to tie the game at three. Shots were 12-5 Saints in the third and 30-21 after regulation.
Overtime would last just 5:00 before the Mustangs would get the winner. Dakota Boutin (unassisted @5:00) capitalized on a turnover and wired his first of the tournament over Murray. Shots were 1-0 Melfort in overtime but were 28-21 Saints overall.
Spruce Grove will take on Fort McMurray in the battle of Alberta Tuesday night.
Story by Chris Colwell
@Cjcolwell
