Oilers edge Golden Hawks

By Lethbridge Herald on October 7, 2022.

Herald photo by JUSTIN SEWARD Lethbridge Val Matteoti Golden Hawks Rylan Ng attempts a shot in the third period against the Okotoks Oilers on Friday at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Val Matteoti Golden Hawks U15AAA hockey club suffered their first defeat of the season, as they lost 4-3 to the Okotoks Oilers on Friday night at Nicholas Sheran Arena in their home opener.

“We played pretty well,” said Mitch Maxwell, Golden Hawks head coach.

“Obviously unfortunate to take some penalties that late (and) fall down 5-on-3. You kind of give up a couple of those, that hurts. But it’s early on in the year and we’ll hopefully bounce back from that in a positive way.”

Okotoks got on the board first just 3:07 into the first period as Noah Milford found the back of the net passed the Hawks’ Brody Rotar.

Lethbridge tied the game almost two-and-a-half minutes later as Parker Fleischhauer scored his first of the season from Cohen Zasadny and Brent Coleman.

The Oilers regained the lead at 15:33 as Garrison Peck scored and the assist going to Braxton Alaric.

Fleishhauer got his second of the night for the Golden Hawks seven minutes into the second period from Aiden Across The Mountain and Lincoln Eaves to tie the game at two.

Lethbridge pulled ahead as Fleishauer was able to notch the hat trick at 16:49 to give the home team a 3-2 lead heading into the third period.

However, things unravelled for the Golden Hawks late in the game as Nathan Coast was sent off for a four-minute hit to the head penalty at 15:24 and then Barrett Van Nistelrooy was penalized for charging at 17:01.

The Oilers would take advantage by scoring two powerplay goals off the stick of Kade Pierson to win 4-3.

“I think you just learn that you’ve got to play right until the end and you got to play a full 60 minutes as a team game,” said Maxwell.

“You’ve got to stick together in those tough times and try to find a way the best you can. And when you kind of get away from the game plan a little bit , sometimes that’s what happens (and) you get yourself in trouble.”

The Golden Hawks will host the SEAC Tigers on Oct. 14 at Nicholas Sheran Arena at 7:15 p.m.