Cooper Williams capped off a barnburner at Westoba Place with the game-winning goal in the Saskatoon Blades’ 3-2 overtime victory against the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Friday’s game in Brandon had a lot on the line. The Blades and Wheat Kings sat tied for second place in the East Division at 56 points, both with identical 25-16-3-3 records heading into the game. Williams’ overtime heroics came with 18 seconds remaining in the extra frame, securing Saskatoon’s third straight win. The 16-year-old centre was named the first star with a goal and an assist, giving him 15 goals and 20 assists in 48 games in his rookie season.
It might’ve been a different outcome for the Blades if not for the stellar play of goaltender Ethan McCallum. The Brandon, MB native, stopped 39 of 41 shots to win his third game in four starts. The 6-foot-4 netminder is now 5-5-0-2 on the year.
The Blades are now tied for first place in the East Division alongside the Prince Albert Raiders with 58 points. The Blades’ Highway 11 rival to the north remains in first with the extra game in hand.
Wheat Kings forward Jordan Gavin scored the only goal of the first period 5:02 into the frame. The Surrey, BC native’s 17th goal of the season came on the powerplay, giving him 40 points in 48 games this season. Despite trailing by a goal, the Blades outshot the Wheat Kings 17-9 after 20 minutes.
Sophomore forward Willy James tied the game 2:50 into the middle frame with his fifth goal of the year. The Calgary, AB product ripped a shot past Philadelphia Flyers draft pick Caraon Bjarnason to snap a 13-game goalless drought. James has five goals and six assists in 32 games this season.
Wheat Kings defenceman Dylan Ronald made it 2-1 for Brandon with a short-handed goal just over halfway through the game. The 18-year-old blueliner has five goals on the season, four coming against Saskatoon in the five-game season series.
2007-born Blades forward Hudson Kibblewhite made it 2-2 on the powerplay with 6:45 left in the second. The Vernon, BC native broke his 12-game goalless drought with his third goal of the season on the man-advantage. Kibblewhite’s tally stood as the last goal in the middle frame, setting up for a dramatic third period with second place in the East Division on the line.
Both sides threw everything they had in a fast-paced final 20 minutes of regulation, but McCallum and Bjarnason both stood on their head to force overtime in Manitoba. Williams got in alone in the dying seconds of the extra period and beat Bjarnason with a gorgeous five-hole goal to secure the win.
What’s Next?
The Blades shake off the bus legs tomorrow when they welcome the Regina Pats to SaskTel Centre.
Puck drop is 7:00 p.m.
