The Virden Oil Capitals beat the OCN Blizzard in back-to-back games to start 2023.
Friday, January 6th the Oil Caps loaded up the bus and headed north to play against the OCN Blizzard.
During Fridays game only one goal was scored throughout the first and second periods of the game. Ashton Paul with the Blizzard, scored at 17:53 on a man advantage as Hunt was called on for interference.
Early in the 3rd period Oil Caps forward Davis Chorney scored his 11th of season tying the game up 1-1 with assists from Chastko and D. Bielik sending the game into overtime.
In the overtime at 3:08 Oil Caps forward Nolan Chastko made a pass to Colten Miller at the blue line who had the advantage with the Blizzard making a line change put the puck right past OCN’s goaltender Chase Hamm to take the win in their first game of 2023!
Saturday, January 7th, 2023
The first period saw several goals. OCN’s Ashton Paul scored 24 seconds in followed by Michael Hlady at 5:26 for OCN to start off with a 2-goal lead.
At 10:34 Roux Bazzin scored the Oil Caps first of the night with assists from Chastko and Chorney. Less than a minute later Dean Gorchynski tied the game up 2-2 with assists from Chastko and Hunt.
With 46 seconds left in the first, Roux Bazzin furthered the Caps score on a man advantage, giving the Caps a 1 goal lead.
Later in second period, forward Josh Lehto scored unassisted, adding to the Oil Caps lead 4-2.
Only one goal was scored in the 3rd period. Ashton Paul of the OCN Blizzard scored their 3rd of night at 11:34.
It wasn’t enough as the game came to an end with the Caps on top 4-3.
Head Coach and GM Tyson Ramsey had this to say:
“As a group we were very pleased with the weekend. I thought we were consistent in our approach to both games no matter the score and our guys battled extremely hard against a tough opponent in a tough rink. It was a great start to the second half and something to build on as we try and get back into a playoff spot.”
The Virden Oil Capitals travel to Portage la Prairie Wednesday, January 11th for a makeup game against the Terriers. 7:30pm puck drop at Stride Place.