A win over the Bonnyville Senior Pontiacs has given the Big Valley Oil Kings both a third-place finish for the season and a spot in league playoffs.
The Oil Kings hosted the Pontiacs in back-to-back games on the weekend, defeating them 5-2 in their first match on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 31.
General manager Dustin Edwards described the match as “a fast-paced, two-way game,” noting, “There was a lot riding on it.”
The following afternoon, the Pontiacs took victory with a 9-4 win over Big Valley, a turnaround that Edwards attributed to the decreased stakes involved, as both teams had already determined their position in the upcoming playoffs.
The two games gave the Oil Kings a 7-6 win-loss record for the now-completed regular season, not including three overtime losses.
Oil Kings 5 Pontiacs 2
The Oil Kings had the scoreboard to themselves in the first two periods of Saturday’s game, with a first-period goal by Chad Golanowski and a power play goal by Chance Abbott in the second period giving them a 2-0 lead.
The third period saw both teams increase their scoring. The Pontiacs finally captured two goals, one on a power play, and by the end of the game they had a total of 40 shots on net, compared to the Oil Kings’ 24.
However, Big Valley maintained its lead in the final period with one goal by Jeff Clazie and two goals by Matt Kinnunen, giving them the 5-2 victory.
Pontiacs 9 Oil Kings 4
The Pontiacs came roaring out of the gate in Sunday’s rematch, scoring three goals in the first period and holding the Oil Kings scoreless.
The Kings attempted to counter this in the second period, with goals by Chance Abbott and Devin Dambruskas, but the Pontiacs added another four points to their tally, giving them a lopsided 7-2 lead at the period’s end.
It was a lead the Oil Kings were unable to overcome, despite a rally at the start of the third period, with two goals scored within one minute by Brandon Nowakowski and Matt Kinnunen.
Two more Bonnyville goals in the final ten minutes of the game gave them a 9-4 victory.
Edwards referred to Sunday’s match as an “ugly” game, noting, “We couldn’t score on power plays, which was tough for us.”
Playoffs
The Oil Kings will compete in the first round of Battle River Hockey League playoffs, facing the second-place Tofield Satellites in a best-of-seven series. The schedule will be released later this week.
“I think that’s a series we’ll have a very good chance of winning,” said Edwards, adding he was pleased not to face the Daysland Northstars in the first round, as that has proven to be a quick recipe for elimination in past years.
He said the Oil Kings should have a good shot at the league championship if they can knock out Tofield in the first round, particularly if they can maintain the level of play they exhibited in Saturday’s game.
Edwards anticipated a full roster would be on hand for the series against Tofield. Ryan MacPhee, one of the team’s top four defensemen, has been out with a groin injury, but is expected to return in time for playoffs.
The Oil Kings lost all four of their regular season matches against Tofield.
Bonnyville finishes the regular season in first place. Rounding out the standings are the Lloydminster Border Kings in fourth place and the Daysland Northstars in fifth.