LAC LA BICHE - The Vermilion Tigers needed just under five minutes of the 10-minute overtime period to beat the Lac La Biche
Clippers in North East Alberta Junior B hockey action on Sunday afternoon.
The Clippers lost the back-and-forth game 8-7, with the winning goal coming on a Tigers powerplay with Clippers forward Triston Mirasty serving a slashing minor called early in the overtime period.
The game's scoring opened with a Tigers goal with just under four minutes played in the first period. The Clippers came back with an equalizer by Isaiah Emmanuel and a go-ahead marker by Maeson Stabbler. Vermilion came back with two quick responses, however, giving the visiting team a one goal leading as the opening frame ended.
The second period saw both teams scoring four goals, maintaining the slim one-goal advantage for the Tigers. In the third period, Deni Kantel's goal at the halfway mark was the only scoreboard changer, forcing the extra overtime frame. The overtime winner for the Tigers came about a minute into their powerplay.
Despite the back-and-forth scoring, the Tigers offence almost dominated the Lac La Biche squad with shots on net. The Vermilion goalie duo of Hunter Mader and Colton Van Maario faced 41 shots, while Clipper netminders Joshua Irving and Keith Biekhof faced 62.
Standings
The single point for the O/T loss keeps the Clippers in second-last place of the seven-team league, two points behind fifth place Cold Lake. The two-point win for the Tigers — the team's second victory over the Clippers in just over a week — puts them into fourth place in the league standings.
The afternoon loss on Bold Center Ice was in front of a crowd of more than 100.
The next home game for the Clippers is on Saturday, Nov. 12 against the Killam Wheat Kings. The Wheat Kings have an 8-2 record and are third in the league behind the St. Paul Canadiens and the Wainwright Bisons.
The Clippers are in Cold Lake to play the Ice on Sunday, Nov. 13.
The overtime loss drops the Clippers record to four wins, five losses and the OT loss in their first 10 games of the season.