September 5th
Virden, MB – Cole Oliver played the role of overtime hero on Saturday night at Tundra Oil & Gas Place as the Virden Oil Capitals picked up a 7-6 win over the SJHL’s Estevan Bruins.
In a wild affair that saw both teams score an unconverted touchdown, it was the Melita product’s first pre-season goal that would lift the Oil Caps to a 1-1 record in the MJHL pre-season.
The opening period was tame in comparison to the others as Carter Cowlthorp was the lone player to find the twine. Shots were 12-7 after one.
Nolan Ross would give the Oil Caps the 2-0 lead with his first of two on the night. The Bruins would counter with two unanswered markers later in the period to send the teams to the room knotted at two.
The third period saw both teams find their scoring touch. The Oil Capitals took a 6-3 lead with goals from Tyler Kirkup, Torrin Grange, Nolan Ross and Devan Schram before the Bruins would mount the comeback.
Three unanswered goals in the final five minutes including the equalizer with less than 2 minutes to go in the third to send the game to overtime.
That’s when Cole Oliver would take a nifty pass from Cody Durdle and snap home the winner through the five hole of Nathan Allalouf.
Michael Newberger made 16 saves in his Oil Capitals debut, a number of them in Highlight Reel Fashion.
With the win the Oil Caps head into the long weekend with a pre-season record of 1-1. They head to Weyburn on Tuesday night before returning home to Tundra Oil & Gas Place on Wednesday for a rematch with the Portage Terriers.
Scoring Summary
1st Period:
VOC: Carter Cowlthorp (1), Lewis & Cusmano
Shots 12-7 Virden
2nd Period:
VOC: N.Ross (1), Shram, D.Ross
EST: Oleksyn (1), Allison, Reiger
EST: LeClare (1), Longpre, Douglas
Shots 22-13 Virden
3rd Period:
VOC: Kirkup (1), Schram, D.Cross
EST: J.Duret (1), Holt, Reiger
VOC: Grange (1), Cowlthorp, Oliver
VOC: N.Ross (2), Schram, T.Cross
VOC: Schram (1), N.Ross, Kirkup
EST: R.Duret (1), J.Duret, Holt
EST: Paxman (1), Barnstable
EST: LeClare (2), Manley
Shots 32-21
Overtime
VOC: Oliver(1), Lewis, Durdle
Final Shots 34-22
EST: 1/3 VOC: 1/3
Attendance: 511