With a big win at home, the Virden Oil Capitals are now headed to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League semifinals.
On Sunday, the Oil Capitals beat the Selkirk Steelers, 3-2, in front of 1,027 at the Tundra Oil and Gas Place. With the victory, Virden won the series 4-2.
“The fans were great Sunday night,” said Oil Caps forward Parker Brakebill, who scored the game’s first goal. “They were loud and on their feet during every major part of the game. It felt good to close out the series on home ice with an atmosphere like that. It kept the boys goin’ all game and we couldn’t have been happier with the outcome.”
The Oil Capitals, who finished fifth in the regular season, advance to play the top-seeded Portage Terriers in the semifinals. The series will start this weekend. Dates were not verified at the Empire-Advance deadline.
“They play hard and they come at you hard,” said Virden head coach Troy Leslie of the Terriers, who like to play a pressure game.
In the quarterfinals, Virden had jumped out to a 2-0 series lead, but the Selkirk Steelers came backto tie the series 2-2. The Oil Capitals then reeled off two straight victories last week to win the series.
“It was a very good series for our team. Everyone played a role. Everybody contributed,” said Leslie, who noted that games five and six were among the team’s best of the season.
Goaltender Dalton Dosch was injured in game four. The Oil Capitals turned to Oak Lake product Riley Wallace. The rookie allowed only one goal on 47 shots in a game five victory and stopped 26 of 28 in a game six win.
“Dalton was so good in games one and two,” Leslie said. “In game four, he got hurt. … Riley made some huge saves for us. He made momentum saves. He kept our momentum and he gave us momentum.”
Kolten Kanaski was an offensive force for Virden. He recorded eight goals in the series and actually scored nine, Leslie said. He had the game winner in triple overtime in game one.
“I can’t remember the last time a guy had nine goals in a series,” Leslie said.
The head coach said the return of defenceman Logan Rands in game six was big. With Rands out, Jacob Evans and Keagan Morrison stepped up, Leslie said. He also noted that D-men Tristen Cross and Jayden Wojciechowski logged a lot of minutes and Brock Shwaluk was his usual steady self.
Game 6
Oil Caps 3, Steelers 2
After a scoreless first period, the Virden offence clicked for three goals in the second session last Sunday. Brakebill got things started and then Kanaski scored a pair, including one on the power play.
Selkirk’s Brady Pupp scored twice in the last half of the third period. However, the Steelers were unable to tie things up. Virden outshot Selkirk 40-28.
Game 5
Oil Caps 3, Steelers 1
Dylan Halliday scored a big third-period goal last Saturday to stake Virden to a 2-1 lead on the road. Captain Ben Dalke added an empty net goal to make the score, 3-1, as Wallace and the Oil Capitals held off the Steelers.
Selkirk had scored first in the opening session. Kanaski answered for Virden on the power play. Dalke had three points on the night.
Game 4
Steelers 4, Oil Caps 3 OT
In the second overtime game of the series, the Steelers earned the win on a goal by Blake Burr.
Both teams scored once in the second period and twice in the third. Virden was 1-for-2 with the man advantage, while Selkirk was 0-for-3.
Scoring for the Oil Capitals were Hunter Cloutier, Dalke, and Kanaski. Dosch made six saves on as many shots before being injured. Wallace stopped 23 of 27 shots.
