This weekend the North Central Hockey League semifinals series between the Virden Oil Kings and Miniota-Elkhorn C-Hawks will be decided one way or another.
The C-Hawks, who finished second in the NCHL regular season, entered the week leading the best-of-five series, 2-1. Virden, which was third during the regular season, won the opening tilt, 4-3, on home ice on Feb. 19. When action shifted to Elkhorn, the C-Hawks posted wins of 9-4 on Feb. 21 and 4-3, last Saturday.
Game four will be played Friday night in Virden. If the Oil Kings prevail, the fifth and deciding contest will be in Elkhorn on Sunday.
“Our teams are very evenly matched,” said Oil King Derek Cross. “Our greatest strength is when we play our game. Move the puck well and move our feet. Against a team like this, we have to capitalize on our power play and stay out of the box.”
Miniota-Elkhorn coach Tyler Mitchell said his team’s depth has made a difference so far.
“We have found most of our success when we stay out of the box and are able to roll all four lines consistently,” he said. “Our powerplay has woken up, six goals in games two and three, which has put a lot of pressure on them to stay out of the box. We have outshot them in every game. Playing in their end, below their dots, was our goal heading into the series, and I think we have been pretty successful carrying that out.”
In the other semifinals series, the Russell Rams led the Swan Valley Axeman, 2-0, as of Sunday. Russell won 2-1 in overtime at home and 6-2 on the road.
Oil Kings 4, C-Hawks 3
At home, Virden scored in the first and second period to build up a 2-0 lead. In the third, the hosts withstood a three-goal C-Hawks outburst and lit the lamp twice themselves to secure a 4-3 victory.
Virden’s Tanner Lewis had two goals and an assist, while Cross recorded a goal and two assists. Also scoring for the Oil Kings was Derek Leblanc. Josh Peterson backstopped Virden to the win.
Shawn Bowles, Taylor Sanheim, and Josh Martin scored for Miniota-Elkhorn. Ian Oliver was in net for the C-Hawks.
C-Hawks 9, Oil Kings 4
The C-Hawks led 3-1 and 8-1 at the intermissions en route to a 9-4 victory. The Oil Kings scored three in the final period.
Kyle McLeod led the C-Hawks with two goals. Also lighting the lamp for Miniota-Elkhorn were Curtis Gardham, Bradley Bowles, Stacy Lowes, Dillin Stonehouse, Tanner Leslie, Nolan Jago, and Curtis Oliver. Cory Gardham picked up the win in net.
Brandon Masson had two goals for Virden, while Joel Cosens and Cameron Whyte also scored. Ryan Mathieson and Peterson defended the crease for the Oil Kings.
C-Hawks 4, Oil Kings 3
The C-Hawks outscored the Oil Kings, 3-2 in the second period to grab a 4-3 lead, a victory, and a 2-1 series lead. Shawn Bowles, Bradley Bowles, Stonehouse, and Sanheim had the Miniota-Elkhorn goals. Cross, Whyte, and Tanner Koroscil replied for Virden. Cory Gardham made 23 saves to earn the win. Peterson and Mathieson both played in net for Virden.
