Cardwell backstops NAIT Ooks to road decision over Red Deer Polytechnic Kings

Red Deer, AB – A quick start helped the NAIT Ooks skate to a 3-1 win over the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings. 

The Ooks struck twice in the opening frame.

Dalton Hamaliuk redirected a rebound past Kings goaltender Arik Weersink at 8:19. Then 20 seconds later, Bryce Osepchuk was successful on a breakaway and put NAIT up by a pair.

Before the end of the first period, the Kings pulled within one. A loose puck found Ryley Smith, who backhanded it past Ooks goalie Westin Cardwell with 4:01 left. Kings captain Tyler Podgorenko, who missed some games with a lower body injury, was back on the ice and assisted on Smith's marker. Mathieu Lapointe had the other helper.

Kings forward Kyle Salaway had an opportunity to even the contest in the final stanza, but his wrist shot rattled off the post.

With 2:02 left in the game, Tyler Robertson was stationed to the left of Weersink and deflected a shot from the point into the cage. Jayden Platz and Brett Trentham had the assists.

Easton Haygarth was named the North Star Sports Kings Player of the Game. Cardwell received the award for the Ooks, turning aside 29 shots (0.967).

Weersink made 31 saves (0.912).

In a rematch, the third place Red Deer Polytechnic Kings (6-2-2-1) will challenge the second seed NAIT Ooks (9-1-0-0) on Saturday, February 12 at 6 pm. The Ooks have two games in hand over the first place Concordia University Thunder (9-1-0-2).