The Oil Capitals are improved to 2 and 2 in the preseason after winning 6 – 4 against the Terriers at the Tundra Oil and Gas Place on Tuesday night.
The Caps starting things off at 2:19 in the 1st as Brett Paddock scored assisted by Jake Poole and Tanner Andrew. At 4:20 the Caps struck again, as Logan Rands, got his first of the preseason, assisted by Brayden Pawluk and Josh Belcher. Portage then followed up with two quick goals at 7:20 and 7:29 marks with Scott Mickoski netting both. The Caps took the lead once again, near the end of the 1st with Parker Brakebill’s first MJHL goal at 9:10 assisted by Tristan Thompson and Thomas Brassard. At 17:09 Ty Barnstable tied the game up for Portage with his first of the preseason.
The Caps broke the tie in the 2nd period, when seventeen-year-old Tristan Thompson got his first MJHL goal assisted by Parker Brakebill.
Early in the 3rd Darren Gisti tied the game up for the Terriers unassisted at 4:26. But the Oil Capitals took the lead for good as Kolten Kanaski got the winning goal at the 6:19 mark and Josh Belcher added the insurance marker at the 13:29 mark.
Tyler Thompson settled into the net for the 1st half of the game for Virden making 14 saves, while Riley Wallace was solid in the final 30 minutes stopping 14 of 15 shots to preserve the victory.
Logan Rands commented on his first MJHL goal and what it felt like to play in Virden. “It felt pretty nice, maybe we say it was a little flukey but it found the back of the net and thats all the matters.”
Anaheim California product, Parker Brakebill, also got his first MJHL goal and he commented on last nights game. “Things were finally coming together a bit. we’re getting thing done we’re working on in practice, its finally coming out in the game.” Stated Brakebill. “It felt good to finally put one in the back of the net. hopefully more of those throughout the year.”
GM and Head Coach Troy Leslie commented on the victory against the Terriers. “I really liked the way we competed as a team tonight. we continue to come together as a group a little more each game. we certainly have some things to work on but overall we are very happy with the effort.”
Virden is back at it tonight, with a rematch against Dauphin.
