The Cranbrook Bucks are one win away from the elusive reverse sweep after taking a 4-3 win in overtime over the West Kelowna Warriors in game six Sunday to tie the first round series at 3-3.
The Bucks scored a lead early in the first period of the must-win game with a goal from Noah Urness just past the six minute mark to put Cranbrook up 1-0. Shortly after, it appeared Urness had the Bucks at a two-goal advantage but the goal was overturned following video review, This led to an unexpected goal off a Warriors faceoff win from their own blueline where a Sean Keohane shot caught Bucks goalie Carter Capton off guard to tie the game 1-1. The deadlock was intact at intermission.
The Warriors turned the tables to start the second period, a breakaway goal from Trent Wilson lifted the Okanagan club to a 2-1 lead at 1:40. The Bucks responded nearly ten-minutes later via newcomer Sam Lyne’s first BCHL goal to bring the game to a 2-2 tie. The game remained tied after forty minutes, setting up a dramatic third period.
An early goal from Julian Frias put Cranbrook ahead 3-2 to start the final frame. The Warriors bounced back with a Felix Caron power play goal to tie the game at 3-3 at 7:30, seemingly prompting an overtime finish. However, a late play from the Warriors seemingly had them back in the lead, but a video review negated it, and overtime was indeed on the horizon. Regulation time expired with a 3-3 tie, bringing game six to an overtime finish.
Both teams traded early chances in overtime, and a Bucks penalty to Jaden Fodchuk looked like it may spell trouble for the home team. However, the Bucks managed to kill the penalty, and Fodchuk found a loose puck on his way out of the penalty Bucks. The original Buck rushed the puck on a breakaway attempt, and found the net to play the role of overtime hero, and lifting Cranbrook to a 4-3 win to tie the series 3-3 after trailing 3-0 at one point.
Sunday’s win forced the series to a deciding seventh game, the Bucks outshot West Kelowna 39-38 in game six. On special teams, the Bucks went 0/1 on the power play and 1/2 on the penalty kill.
The deciding seventh game of this first round series is set for Tuesday in West Kelowna.
Buck Tracks:
- First BCHL goal for Samuel Lyne.
- 2 points for each Frias twin (1g,1a for Julian, 0g,2a for Donovan).
– Article includes photo from Trevor Crawley
