Written by Gary Moskalyk
Northern Manitoba overcame a pair of one-goal deficits to defeat Kam River 3-2 in game three action at the Centennial Cup. Ashton Sadauskas made 28 saves to keep the Fighting Walleye in the game, but third period strikes by Benson Hirst and Brett Ward put the Blizzard in the Centennial Cup playoffs. Kam River’s bid to join them took a serious hit.
The Fighting Walleye play Northern Ontario’s Greater Sudbury Cubs at noon MDT on Wednesday in a must win match for both teams. Trenton has already punched its ticket to the playoffs joining Northern Manitoba, leaving one spot open for the remaining three teams. A Grande Prairie win in either of its next two games will negate any chance for Kam River to make the top three in Group A.
All the Walleye can do is max out at five points and hope for the best.
The teams battled through a scoreless first. Sadauskas stymied Miguel Bouvier’s point blank effort early in the game. Manitoba’s Taye Timmerman denied Carter Poddubny’s chance from the high slot, and Nico Simeoni’s wrap around failed to click. The Walleye successfully killed off two minor penalties. Kam River held to three shots in the first 20 minutes, with none recorded until mid-period, but allowed only six themselves in a tight physical and defensive battle.
Quincy Supprien “scored” shorthanded for Northern Manitoba in a goal mouth scramble but the goal was waved early in the second. It took several replays to determine the puck was indeed over the line. Marlen Edwards slapshot was blocked by Kam River’s Edwin Liang to keep the game scoreless. Timmerman shunted aside Daxton Lang’s breakaway backhander. Lang skated into the post but shook it off.
Sam Sargent put the Walleye ahead 1-0 at 13:38 of the second, converting Callum Halls’ pass from behind the Blizzard net. Sargent’s slot blast came on Kam River’s ninth shot of the game.
Supprien scored for real, deflecting in Edwards’ one-timer on a Manitoba power play late in the second period to tie it.
Carter Poddubny scored unassisted at 52 seconds of the third to put the Walleye ahead 2-1. He stripped the puck at the Blizzard blue line and buried a breakaway backhander.
Northern Manitoba struck for two quick goals to tie it and take the lead. Hirst’s wrister under the arm of Sadauskas at 3:21 knotted the score, and Ward’s game-winner 2:02 later–a one-timer top shelf–on a Blizzard power play, proved to be decisive.
Carter Nailen had a grade A chance after a Brodie McLeod shot with eight minutes left. With 15 seconds remaining and Sadauskas out for an extra attacker, Kam River won a crucial draw in the Blizzard zone but came up empty.
The Walleye took six minor penalties to Northern Manitoba’s one. The Blizzard went 2-6 while Kam River was 0-1 with the man advantage.
Timmerman made 11 saves for the win. Sadauskas was named player-of-the-game for the Walleye. Hirst took the award for Northern Manitoba.
Attendance was listed at 250.