The Oil Capitals defeated the OCN Blizzards 7-4 on Saturday at the Tundra Oil and Gas Place.
Virden started the game with a bang as Josh Belcher scored at the (0:46 mark) assisted by Brett Paddock to set the scene for a high scoring game. Paddock then picked up his 2nd of the year at the (8:04 mark) unassisted. Ben Dalke (16:18) put Virden up 3-0 with assists to Kolten Kanaski and Blake Sidoni. OCN would get on the board late in the 1st, (18:56) assisted by Dodge Long and Cory Checco.
The 2nd period was full of end to end chances, with Dosch and Giesbrecht each making 10 bell saves for their respective teams. But, OCN made it 3-2 when James Maxwell netted his 9th of the season assisted by Tony Apetagon. Kanaski (9:06). Kolten Kanaski with his 13th of the season, regained the 2-goal lead for Virden just over a minute later with assists going to Dalke and Logan Rands. Again, OCN made it a 1 goal game on their power play when Nolan Dawson, with his 6th of the year, (11:44 mark) assisted by Bryden Sinclair to close out the scoring in the period.
McCullough Park, with his 3rd of the year, started the 3rd off scoring the Cap’s fifth goal of the night assisted by Tanner Andrew. Virden’s made it 6-3 when Oil Capital’s captain, Ben Dalke, netted his 8th of the year assisted by Kanaski and Brock Shwaluk near the midway point of the period. Caps outstanding rookie Dylan Halliday, then put the game away with his 3rd of the season, after scoring on a wraparound just past the midway point of the 3rd with assists to Rands and Tristan Cross. OCN scored late, when Tanner Brewster got his 2nd of the year assisted by Riley Barraso. The 3rd period was a rough affair with over 50 minutes in penalty minutes handed out, as Virden got the 7-4 win.
Oil Captials netminder Dalton Dosch was once again solid, stopping 25 of 29 shots tossed his way. OCN’s netminder Noah Giesbrecht, made many big saves in the losing cause, stopping 25 of 36 shots.
Assistant Coach Tyson Ramsey weighed in on the win: “Were happy with the win, but if you’re going to draw one up thats probably not the way you’d draw one up. First and second period were a little scrambly and we were a little fearful of that, playing against a team who has lots of offensive weapons. But at the end of the day we got the job done. Early in the season we weren’t getting those wins, so to come away with that one tonight was huge for us. I was really happy with the guys in the third period, how they stood up for each other. Those are all important things for us moving forward to grow as a group.”
The Oil Capitals face off once more against the OCN Blizzards today, Sunday the 18th at the Tundra Oil and Gas Place. Puck drop for that contest is 7:00pm.
The Virden Oil Capitals are excited to have Virden Collegiate product, Brandon Martens of the Golden Bear’s Football team on hand, dropping the puck prior to the contest with OCN. Brandon has been chosen as one of the country’s top high school football players to attend next weekend’s Grey Cup.