It was as close as it could possibly get as the Kneehill Chiefs and the Drumheller Raptors U18 battled it out for the league championship over the weekend.
The Drumheller React/ DT Fire Protection Raptors hosted game one of the two-game total points series at the Drumheller Memorial Arena on Friday, March 8. Hundreds came out to cheer on the Raptors as they jumped out to a a 1-0 lead in the first period. The Chiefs settled into their game and pushed hard in the second period, going up 3-1. Drumheller clawed back but couldn’t close the gap, falling 4-3. Gavin Olsen, Kerric Chambers and Ryder Hems tallied the goals for the Raptors.
This put the Raptors at a one-goal deficit going into Game 2 in Trochu on Sunday afternoon.
The Raptors went up by a goal again in the first period, but by the end of the third it was tied at three. The Raptors played hard and at the end of regulation time, were up 4-3. This means the two teams were tied at seven goals apiece. Chambers had two goals, and Kayden Bitz and Kegan Regis each contributed one.
Overtime ensues, in fact, triple overtime.
“We technically won 4-3 and tied it up for overtime,” said coach Stephen Fournier. “We had a couple of powerplays in overtime, they had a couple of powerplays, and we killed them off.”
In the third overtime, the Raptors got a penalty a minute and a half in and killed it off.
“As soon as we killed it off, it was just a flutter-puck they threw in at the net from the blue line, and it deflected off of one of our guys and caught our goalie coming the other way.”
This ends a very successful season for the U18 Raptors. They were defending champions going into the season. This result was as close as a game could possibly get.
“The kids played awesome there was nothing else you could ask for. They left everything on the ice,” said Fournier. “Kneehill was a great team, and to take them to triple overtime, especially in their barn, down a goal to start with. It’s a feat of its own.”
He is also grateful for the community support of the Raptors on their playoff drive. He also sees the growth of the Drumheller Minor Hockey program.
“Kids are wanting it more, we are getting the outside coaching, and it is helping a lot. It is getting nice to have hockey coming back in Drumheller like it was when I played.”
