The Oil Capitals were looking to extend upon their 4 game winning Friday night in Swan River against the Stampeders. The team battled hard all night long, coming back from a two goal deficit, but it wasn’t enough as the home town team won by a 5-3 margin.
Swan Valley’s, Josh Maucieri got his 12th of the campaign, which stood up as the only goal in the 1stperiod. Maucieri wasn’t done there, as he potted his second of the game, early on in the 2nd, to put Swan Valley up 2-0. Just over a minute later, Virden’s, Hunter Cloutier, cut the lead in half, netting his 18th of the season. 18-year old, Josh Belcher, then netted a short-handed marker to tie the game at 2 at the 16:36 mark of the 2nd. Swan Valley got the lead back late in the 2nd, when Mathew Osadick, got his 20th of the season for the hometown team.
Virden’s hometown product, Tanner Andrew, found the back of the net for the Oil Caps to tie the game back up at 3-3 early in the 3rd period. Unfortunately for the Oil Capitals, that was all the scoring they would do, as Swan Valley netted the final two goals of the game with Brian Harris and Bradly Geothals doing the damage. It was a hard fought game in the 3rd as Virden’s Kolten Kanaski and Swan Valley’s Leyson Coleman had fighting majors.
Dalton Dosch was solid in the net for Virden, stopping 31 of 35 in the hard luck loss. Swan Valley’s, Michael Davis, stopped 31 of 34 in getting the win.
“We turned some pucks over early in the game, and they capitalized on their chances. After a slow start we settled in and were solid for most of the game. To beat a league leader, we need to cut our goals against down in a game like this. We will continue to work on our habits all over the ice to limit the goals against in these tight games. All in all, some positives out of this game we will take forward to our next two games in OCN.” Stated Head Coach/GM, Troy Leslie.
Oil Capitals Tid Bits: 20-year old, Tristen Cross, received the MJHL’s “Telus Defenceman of the Month” for January. Cross, a Virden product, was solid for the month of January at both ends of the ice. Cross had 4 goals and 5 assists for 9 points in 10 games and was a force at both ends of the ice. Forwards; Tristan Thompson and Parker Brakebill, and defenceman; Keagan Morrison didn’t play for the Oil Capitals.
Up for the Oil Capitals: The Oil Caps face off tonight at 7pm against the OCN Blizzard!
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Save your tickets for the Oil Capitals Awards Banquet! Call: the Oil Caps Office at 204-748-4848 for your tickets.