The senior squad fell 2-1 to the Langenburg Warriors in its best-of-three North Central Hockey League South Division Semi-Final. Langenburg advances to play Miniota-Elkhorn in the division finals.
After a 9-11-0 regular season, the Oil Kings entered the playoffs as the division’s third seed. Langenburg has finished second in the South with a 10-9-1 record. When Virden coach Brett Braybrook was asked what he was most pleased about the season, he said:
“I would have to say the commitment and work ethic from our core group that was there each and every game. It isn’t easy as senior hockey has a variety of different age groups from university students to dads busy with their families. I love seeing everyone come together and enjoy their evening at the rink. No matter what their age they all come with one goal in mind and that is to play or coach the game we love.”
After falling 7-6 in an epic double-overtime game one of the division semi-finals on the road, the Oil Kings rebounded to win game two, 4-2, on Feb. 11.
“We always play real well and enjoy playing home,” Braybrook said. “Our powerplay was the difference maker in the game. We were able to convert three separate times on Tuesday.”
After a scoreless first period, Virden took a 3-0 lead in the second. All three of those goals came with the man advantage. They were scored by Tanner Lewis, Tanner Koroscil, and Jason Verran.
In the third period, the Warriors scored on the powerplay and shorthanded. However, Koroscil scoffed his second of the night and goalie Caden Wilson helped hold off the Warriors.
Virden’s James Sytnyk scored first on Feb. 13 to give the Oil Kings a 1-0 first period lead on the road. Shane Keown lit the lamp in the second but Langenburg scored twice in the frame to send the contest to the third period deadlocked at 2-2. The Warriors scored three goals in the third to win 5-2.
We talked at the start of the series and knew we matched up very well with Langenburg.” Braybrook said. “Special teams were going to be the difference in the series. We needed to outwork and compete as we knew they would. I felt like we competed very well over the course of the series. The difference on Thursday was they capitalized on their chances in the third.”
