The Swan Valley Stampeders remain perfect on the 2020/21 MJHL regular season, winning 5-4 in OCN, in overtime Friday night. Swan Valley would come from behind twice, forced overtime, and it was Alex Danis who finished it off with 41 seconds left in the extra frame.
Danis lead the way with a pair of goals, Jamie Valentino and Callum Fortin each scored a goal, while Mikael Foucher backstopped his club stopping 31/35 shots he faced in the win.
The Blizzard opened the scoring as Trent Crane used the games’ first power play to score his first goal of the year at the 4:19 mark. Levi Thiessen would give the Blizzard a two goal lead, scoring on a 2-on-1 with 35 seconds left in the opening frame. Shots after the first period were 8-8.
Valentino would score his first of the year on the power play 2:35 into the middle frame pulling the Stampeders within one. Fortin poked home his second of the year just 35 seconds later and the game was tied 2-2. The Blizzard would respond after a very strong first half of the period by the Stampeders. Aiden Litke lifted a puck over Foucher at the 10:53 mark to give the Blizzard a 3-2 lead. Jaden Pashe was left all alone in front of the Stampeder goal, grabbing a loose puck and back handing home his second of the year, on the power play at 13:36.
Just like the second period, the Stampeders would climb back into the game. Danis roofed his third of the season at 12:04 of the final frame, pulling the Stampeders within one. Jackson Zloty notched his second as a Stampeder at 14:33, jumping on a loose puck in front of the net, tying the game 4-4. After 60 minutes of play the two teams remained tied and would see their first overtime of 2020/21.
In overtime it was back and forth, 3-on-3 action for both teams. Alex Danis would play hero for the Stampeders Friday night, scooping up a loose puck at his own blue line, walked in all alone, scoring low blocker side on a breakaway with 41 seconds left in the extra frame.
With tonight’s win the Stampeders record improved to 3-0-0 and claimed first overall in both the Northwest Division and the MJHL.
The Stampeders will be right back at it tomorrow night (Sat, Oct.17) when they host the Blizzard in their fourth and final game of their mini-series. Puck drop goes at 7 p.m. at the Centennial Arena.
Reminder that our online 50/50 is running and available to anyone interested in Manitoba to purchase. Head over to www.stampedershockey.com to buy now.
Please remember to wear a mask at all times while in the arena and to social distance where you can. These rules have been put in place by the Town of Swan River to ensure the safety of all players, staff, board members, arena staff, refs and fans. Please follow the rules so we can all enjoy the game we love.
We hope to see you at the Corral tomorrow night. Reminder that capacity is limited to 400 at this point of the pandemic.