News, Playoffs

Oil Caps go up 2-0, Wolverines tie series at 1-1

by ksaurette

Photo credit: Kalee Haasbeek

WINNIPEG, MB – The Virden Oil Capitals doubled up the Steinbach Pistons to take a 2-0 series lead while the Waywayseecappo Wolverines skated to victory over the Niverville Nighthawks on home ice to tie up their best-of-seven semifinal series up at 1-1.

Oil Capitals 8 Pistons 4 | Oil Capitals lead best-of-seven series 2-0
Bryce Bryant quieted the home crowd of 2,101 in Steinbach on Saturday night with his hat-trick performance that helped the Oil Caps to an 8-4 win over the Pistons in game two.

Virden came on in waves in the 1st period, receiving goals from Liam Goertzezn, Dysen Drake, and Marshall Light to take a 3-0 lead. Zhenya Miles cut into the Oil Caps lead with 57 seconds left in the period to strike for the Pistons.


After Cohen Lewko scored early in the 2nd to give Virden their three-goal lead back, Liam Doyle found the back of the net to cut the deficit to a pair. On a late powerplay in the last 40 seconds of the period, Bryce Bryant scored his first of the evening to regain the Oil Caps three-goal lead.


On an early Pistons powerplay, Luke Bogart would find the back of the net to pull the Pistons back within two but that’s as close as they would get with the Oil Capitals taking over.


Tyson Ulmer would score his first of the postseason to make way for Bryce Bryant who would score goals 7 and 8 of the playoffs to complete the hat-trick and give Virden an 8-3 lead. Connor Paronuzzi would scored with 33 seconds left in the game and that would be all as Virden would skate to an 8-4 win.

Through two games in this series, Virden has scored 14 goals with Bryce Bryant notching 5 goals and 2 assists. Braxton Burdeny stopped 33/37 shots while Chris Quizi stopped 27/35 in the loss.

A couple days off now between games for these two clubs as they return to action for games 3 and 4 in Virden on Tuesday and Wednesday at Tundra Oil & Gas Place.

Wolverines 3 Nighthawks 1| Best-of-seven series tied 1-1
Dylan Hebert scored the game winner while Jase Wareham made 27 saves to help the Wolverines to a 3-1 win over the Nighthawks in game two on Saturday night in Waywayseecappo.

It was another 1st period goaltending duel between Jase Wareham and Austin Dubinsky who would keep the game scoreless after 20 minutes with the Wolverines outshooting the Nighthawks, 11-9.

Dylan Duzan would cash in at the mouth of the crease for his 4th of the postseason to give the Wolverines an early 1-0 lead in the 2nd. The Nighthawks would continue to push and found a response off the stick of Kole Mears who would jam in a rebound past Wareham to tie the game at 1-1.


5:51 into the 3rd period on what seemed like a nothing play, Dylan Hebert fired the puck through the wickets of Austin Dubinsky which would squeak through to the back of the net to give the Wolverines a 2-1 lead.


The Nighthawks would make a late push and pull Dubinsky for the extra attacker but that would be all as Sebastien Hicks would score on the empty net to seal a 3-1 win in game two for the Wolverines.


Waywayseecappo was outstanding on the penatly kill, going 5-for-5 on the night to keep Niverville at bay.

The series now shifts back to Niverville for game three on Monday night at 7:30 inside the CRRC.