The Westlock Atom 2 Warriors glimmered with gold, winning the best-of-three series against Strathcona in the final round of Tier 4 Atom 1660 Hockey League playoffs.
The Warriors defeated Strathcona 3-2 in Westlock March 16 for Game 1 of the series and followed it up with a 7-6 OT road win March 18.
On March 16, Strathcona took a 1-0 lead to the end of the first period.
In the second, the Warriors made a quick turnaround and netted two goals within minutes of Strathcona’s second goal to tie the game 2-2.
As the minutes passed in the third period, both teams were just shy of breaking the tie. Finally with less than two minutes left on the clock, Warrior Jackson Rufiange netted the game winner to make the final 3-2.
Even with the win, the Warriors said they could have battled harder.
“In the first period we weren’t hustling and we were slow to the puck,” said goalie Cooper Buchko. “We could have went in and got the puck and battled more.”
The Warriors had faced off against Strathcona back in February and defeated them 3-0, but they said that was when their opponents were down their top scorer.
“We knew we were going to have to have a strong face off against them because it’s the finals and we’re the top two teams,” added Cole Hamer. “So it’s going to be competitive.
The club headed south to Strathcona March 18 for Game 2.
“We’re going to bring a hard hustle and come and win the battles and win,” Buchko said.
That’s exactly what happened. Saturday’s game was a fierce competition between the two teams yet the Warriors gained the upper hand and scored a 7-6 win in a sudden-death overtime shoot out to claim the league banner.
Strathcona came out strong taking a 4-2 lead after the first.
In period two, Westlock came back with three goals followed quickly by Strathcona.
The Warriors weren’t finished and knocked in two more in the third, but Strathcona wasn’t ready to submit and tied the game 6-6.
Both sides fought neck and neck for the title, taking the game to a sudden death shoot out where the Warriors prevailed.
