The MJHL semi-final series between the Steinbach Pistons and the Swan Valley Stampeders is proving to be one for the ages.
The best of seven semi-final series kicked off Friday, March 22nd in front of a full house at the Centennial Arena. This series has seen almost everything and we are just two games in. The last two games have shown the ups and downs of Junior “A” playoff hockey from early scoring, to power play opportunities, to late game heroics, and even overtime.
Returning to the ice after a week off, the Stampeders weathered the storm of the Pistons early on Friday night.
Steinbach captain Tyson McConnell would score the series’s first goal just over five minutes into the game and silenced a very energetic crowd. The Stampeders battled back and Quintin Sudom tied the game just over eight minutes later. Troy Williams and Riley Vautour added two goals 47 seconds apart in the third which prove to be the back breaker for the Stamps’ in game one.
Game One Recap
1st Period
5:02 (SP) Tyson McConnell (4) Asst: Troy Beauchemin (3), Max Neill (1)
13:47 (SV) Quintin Sudom (1) Asst: Dane Hirst (6), Bradly Goethals (4)
2nd Period
5:16 (SV) Troy Quinn (2) Asst: Kasyn Kruse (2), Alex Uryga (5)
3rd Period
4:19 (SP) Troy Williams (1) Asst: Easton Bennett (6), Troy Beauchemin (4)
5:06 (SP) Riley Vautour (1) Asst: Easton Bennett (7), Brendan Martin (2) (PP)
GOALIES
Merek Pipes stopped 28 of 31 shots and posted a .903 SV% in the loss
Matt Radomsky stopped 42 of 44 shots posting a .955 SV% in the win
Steinbach Pistons PP 1/4
Swan Valley Stampeders PP 0/6
Final: Steinbach 3 vs Swan 2
The script was flipped Saturday, March 23rd, as the high flying offence of the Stampeders took over in the later stages of the game to tie it at two and force overtime. The Stamps’ first taste of overtime in this year’s MJHL playoffs would send the Swan River faithful home on a positive note.
Bradly Goethals opened the scoring in game two as he let a rocket go from the point that beat Matt Radomsky high glove at 6:53. Tanner Mole responded for the defending league champions, as he tipped home his fourth of the post season, on the power play, six and a half minutes later. The Pistons would take the lead midway through the second period on a Riley Vautour goal at 13:22. Matt Osadick was left all alone in front of the net and buried a cross crease pass just over two minutes into the third period. Goethals would be the hero Saturday night, sending a cross ice pass to Matt Osadick that was redirected off Pistons defenceman Troy Williams’ stick and past Radomsky just 3:13 into overtime.
Game Two Recap
1st Period
6:53 (SV) Bradly Goethals (4) Asst: Matt Osadick (4), Brian Harris (6) (PP)
12:15 (SP) Tanner Mole (4) Asst: Troy Williams (5), Kyle Bettens (7) (PP)
2nd Period
13:22 (SP) Riley Vautour (2) Asst: Nicholas Labossiere (2), Brendan Martin (3)
3rd Period
2:22 (SV) Matt Osadick (3) Asst: Campbell Balk (1), Landon Johnson (1)
Overtime
3:13 (SV) Bradly Goethals (5) Asst: None
GOALIES
Merek Pipes stopped 24 of 26 shots and posted a .926 SV% in the win.
Matt Radomsky stopped 35 of 38 shots posting a .921 SV% in the loss.
Steinbach Pistons PP 1/2
Swan Valley Stampeders PP 1/5
Final: Steinbach 2 vs Swan 3
One thing is for sure, this years Swan Valley Stampeders never quit attitude was on full display in both games, and they continue to make everyone #Believe
UP NEXT
The series will now shift to Steinbach for games three and four on Wednesday, March 27th and Thursday, March 28th. Both games start at 7:30pm and can be heard on gx94 radio and viewed on HockeyTV.com.