The Carrot River Outback Thunder were battling to keep their season alive this week.
After dropping game one of their Prairie Junior Hockey League Survivor Series 11-1 to the West Central Rage on Friday, the Thunder bounced back to secure a 3-2 victory at home on Sunday. The third and final game of the series was to be played on Wednesday, in Kerrobert, after the Review’s deadline.
Trevor Logan, the Thunder’s head coach, said a key for Wednesday will be for his squad to shake off its ‘bus legs.’ The home team had won the first two games of the series.
“Neitherteam has done that well with the long trip, so we will need to try make some adjustments to ease that,” Logan said. “Other than that, we just need to show up and lay it all on the line, leave nothing in the tank at the end of the night and let the chips fall where they may. If the effort is there and we stay mentally focused, we can play with any team in the league. When we aren’t, we don’t do well at all! Trust the process and the end result usually takes care of itself.”
Game One: Rage 11, Thunder 1
On Feb. 17, the first game of the playoff series was knotted at 1-1 after the first period in Kerrobert. The Rage scored three goals in the second session and seven in the third period en route to an 11-1 win. West Central outshot Carrot River 57-22.
Thunder forward Chandler Ashcroft opened the game’s scoring. Kolton Holmen started and stopped 28 of the 32 shots he faced. Ben Gilbertson came on in relief and made 18 saves on 25.
West Central’s Dallan Tuchschererhad 21 saves on 22 shots. Tylo Anderson, Breylan Fisetand Matt Mitchelleach scored twice for the Rage. Also scoring for West Central were Josh Shynkaruk, Blake Fennig, Landon Longmire, Nayte Zipand Masen Carriere.
Game Two: Thunder 3, Rage 2
At the Carrot River Arena on Feb. 19, the Thunder jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead thanks to a pair of goals from Logan Robinson.
“I couldn't have done it without the effort everyone gave tonight,” Robinson said.
The humble forward from Minnedosa, Man. said he was in the right place at the right time for both markers. Robinson said his first one went off his stick and squeezed by the goalie after it was redirected. On the second goal, Robinson one-timed it in.
Neither team scored in the second period. Early in the third session, Austin Linnen lit the lamp to put the Thunder up 3-0.
The Rage were able to pull within a goal late in the game. With less than seven minutes left, Blake Fennig scored shorthanded. Then Tristan McDonald netted the Rage’s second goal, on a power play, with 3:38 left to play.
However, the Rage were not able to get another one past Holmen. The veteran finished with 25 saves on 27 shots. His West Central counterpart, Tuchscherer, had 35 saves.
Logan said that the squad showed up to play on Sunday and battled hard.
“Kolton bounced back and made some key saves that we need him to make. Robinson refocused his game and was also a big factor. We need our top guys to be our hardest workers every night to set the pace and they were.”
With an announced attendance of 500, the Thunder were enthusiastically, cheered on by their fans.
“Playing at home always makes it easier but tonight we had just that much more support from the fans that really helped push us to want to win it for them,” Robinson said. “Seeing that many people out there to watch us always makes you want to give it a bit more extra and not disappoint.”
