The Oil Caps started 2019 off on the right foot with a big 3-2 win over the Waywayseecappo Wolverines on Thursday night at Tundra Oil and Gas Place.
Austin Johnston opened the scoring at the 1:55 mark of the opening frame helping Virden carry a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. Kolten Kanaski’s 21stof the year at 5:18 of the second period made it 2-0 before the Wolverines would cut into the lead as Gerrick Ripley’s third of the season at 12:28 made it 2-1.
The Oil Caps would reclaim their two-goal advantage however as Hunter Cloutier’s 16thtally of the season at 4:36 of the third made it 3-1. The Wolverines would score late as Alex Lucken’s tally with just five seconds left on the clock made it 3-2 but that’s as close as the visiting team would get on this night as the Oil Caps improved to 20-12-2-4 on the season.
“It’s a good one to get under our belts as you never know how the first one will be after the long break so it’s good to be settled in,” said Oil Caps captain Ben Dalke.
Dalton Dosch turned aside 24 of 26 pucks to pick up his 15thwin of the season in net for Virden, while Isaac Labelle stopped 35 shots in the loss between the pipes for the Wolverines, who dropped to 15-18-2-2 on the year.
“Solid win for the team tonight to kickoff the new year,” Dosch said. “Between battling some penalties and being fresh off the break, the boys competed hard throughout.”
Next up for the Oil Caps: Saturday night in Winkler. Game time: 7:30 p.m.