The Big Valley Oil Kings were winless in their two weekend games, losing in close battles against Bonnyville and Lloydminster.
On Saturday, Nov. 22, the teams went into overtime, where Bonnyville managed to close the deal and win 3-2.
The Oil Kings started strong with Matt Kinnunen winging in an unassisted, short-handed goal to open the game, repeating the trick about two minutes later. With defence playing strong, the Bonnyville Pontiacs were kept scoreless, and the first period ended 2-0 for the Oil Kings.
The comfortable lead dwindled in the second, as the Pontiacs regrouped and turned the tables on the Oil Kings, scoring twice – once on a powerplay, tying up the game.
Their defence held strong and the Oil Kings were kept scoreless, and the second ended in a 2-2 tie.
Despite several close calls in the third period, neither team managed to net a goal and the game went into overtime. With just half a minute left in the overtime period, the Pontiacs snapped the puck past the Oil Kings’ netminder, Chance Clark.
The Oil Kings travelled next to Lloydminster to face the Border Kings, suffering another closely fought battle with a score of 4-3.
The Border Kings took an early lead in the period, scoring a few minutes in to the game and again about 10 minutes later. It took a one-man advantage for the team to break through the hometown defence and score, courtesy of a shot from Luke Boyer.
In the second period, the Border Kings once again widened the gap between them and the Oil Kings, scoring another two goals. Taking advantage of a penalty against the Border Kings, Rob Turville narrowed the gap once again, bringing the score to 4-2, where the period ended.
Early in the third, Chance Abbott spotted the perfect chance to narrow that gap and passed the puck to teammate Ben Starbuck, who slapped it past Border Kings’ goalie, Jesse Ehnisz.
However, defence tightened up and that was the last shot to get past Ehnisz, though there were several close calls, and the game ended 4-3.
There’s one more away game, on Dec. 5 in Daysland, before the Oil Kings have their season home opener on Saturday, Dec. 13. That day, and the next day as well, the Oil Kings will have a rematch against the Border Kings. The final game in December is on the 20th in Tofield.