Oil Capitals advance to semis

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This article was published 03/04/2023 (1258 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BLIZZARD VS. OIL CAPITALS

The Virden Oil Capitals clinched a spot in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League semifinals on Sunday night as they beat the OCN Blizzard 3-2 at Tundra Oil & Gas Place to win their best-of-seven quarterfinal matchup in six games.

Nolan Chastko, Trevor Hunt and Davis Chorney all scored for the Oil Capitals in the series decider, while Owen LaRocque turned aside 29 shots. Ryan Monais and Michael Hlady countered in the third period for the Blizzard, who received a 31-save showing from Chase Hamm.

The Oil Capitals took the lead in the series on Friday with a 2-1 win in The Pas. Andrew Blocker and Roux Bazin scored for the visitors and LaRocque made 23 saves.

Sam Zagari had OCN’s lone goal and Hamm blocked 28 shots.

KINGS VS. STAMPEDERS

The other West Division quarterfinal matchup between the Swan Valley Stampeders and Dauphin Kings resumes at Credit Union Place on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., with the Stampeders holding a 3-2 series lead.

The Kings kept their season alive on Saturday in Swan River as Deepkaran Hans scored in double overtime to give his team a 4-3 win. Hans, Jayden Harris and Mathew Gough had a goal and an assist each for the defending Turnbull Cup champions, who also saw Anthony Bax find the back of the net.

Cole Sheffield got the start in goal but was pulled after allowing two goals on 15 shots in the first period. Dmytro Kubritsky made 15 saves in relief to earn the victory. Brandonite Callum Halls led the way for the Stampeders with a goal and an assist. Justin Keck and Jakob Jones also scored, while Kobe Grant stopped 38 shots.

The Stampeders took a 3-1 series lead on Friday when Adam Rajsigl scored his second goal of the night to give his team a 3-2 double overtime win in Dauphin. Myles Mason also scored and Grant blocked 35 shots.

Gough and Alex Senf countered for the Kings, who received a 34-save outing from Sheffield.

A seventh and deciding game, if needed, would take place in Swan River at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

TERRIERS VS. NIGHTHAWKS

The Centennial Cup host Portage Terriers qualified for the final four on Friday with a 5-1 win over the Niverville Nighthawks in Game 5 of their quarterfinal matchup.

Kian Calder had three assists in the series decider, while Dauphin’s Hayden Lacquette dished out a pair of helpers. Austin McLean scored two goals for the hosts, who also got goals from Brett Magarrell, Brock MacDonald and Brenden Holba to go along with Jayden Catellier’s 26-save showing.

Evan Bortis had the lone marker for the expansion Nighthawks and Chris Fines blocked 33 shots.

The Terriers, who won Game 4 by a score of 3-1 in Niverville on Thursday, will face the remaining team with the lowest point total in the semifinal round.

PISTONS VS. FLYERS

In the other all-East Division matchup, the Winkler Flyers picked up a pair of wins over the Steinbach Pistons to force a seventh and deciding game on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in Steinbach.

On Sunday in Winkler, Gavin Waltz, Logan Fillion and Zach Nicolas all scored and Malachi Klassen made 32 saves as the Flyers picked up a 3-1 win. Davis Fry scored for the Pistons and Dominik Wasik blocked 26 shots.

The Flyers kept their playoff hopes alive on Friday with a dominant 7-3 road win that saw Brandonite Dalton Andrew have two goals and two assists. Mike Svenson and Xyon Kiemeney had a goal and an assist each for the visitors, who also got goals from Brody Beauchemin, Nicholas McKee and Nichols and a 33-save showing from Klassen.

Dawson Milliken had two goals for the Pistons. Ty Paisley dished out a pair of helpers and Fry also lit the lamp.

Wasik was pulled after allowing six goals on 12 shots in 32 minutes of work. Cole Plowman made eight saves during the final 28 minutes.

» The Brandon Sun