The Carstar Okotoks Bisons offence came alive on Tuesday to keep their title hopes intact.
Okotoks scored three first period goals and held off a late surge to edge the Sylvan Lake Wranglers 6-5 at the Next Source Centre, staving off elimination in Game 3 of the best-of-five Heritage Junior Hockey League Final.
Ten Okotoks skaters registered a point in the victory with blueliner Trevor Bonham opening the scoring with his first of the playoffs, Kegan Law notching a powerplay goal 90 seconds later and Jady Shigehiro adding a shorthanded marker in a wild opening frame.
Sam Callahan scored his ninth of the postseason early in the middle stanza with Hayden Motowylo and Riley Teulon countering for the hosts. Easton Dean restored the Bisons’ two goal lead late in the period.
Callahan made it 10 playoff goals with a key powerplay tally in the third period with the Wranglers clawing back through captain Tyson Tisdale and Bret Gerrits’ second goal of the game with 3:34 left in regulation.
That’s as close as they would get as Dylan Walker earned the victory with 21 saves while Okotoks handed Kaden Toussaint his first loss of the final with six goals on 30 shots.
The series shifts back to Okotoks’ Murray Arena on Thursday, March 27 at 8 p.m. for Game 4. If the final goes the distance, Game 5 would be back in Sylvan Lake on March 29.
For more information, go to okotoksbisons.com.
Series schedule
Game 1: Okotoks at Sylvan Lake. Wranglers win 4-2.
Game 2: Sylvan Lake at Okotoks. March 23, 3 p.m. Wranglers win 5-0.
Game 3: Okotoks at Sylvan Lake. March 25, 8 p.m. Bisons win 6-5
Game 4: Sylvan Lake at Okotoks. March 27, 8 p.m.
Game 5: Okotoks at Sylvan Lake. March 29, 6 p.m.
