The Whitewood Orioles improved on their standings in the Triangle Hockey League (THL) last weekend following a 5-2 win over the visiting Esterhazy Flyers on Saturday night.
But what everyone was talking about in the days following was an awe-inspiring goal made by Colton MacPherson in the second period.
After a scoreless first period, the score quickly jumped to 3-1 for Whitewood halfway through the second period when in just a matter of three minutes four goals were scored. The lead was increased to 5-2 in the third period with two more goals by Whitewood, and a single by Esterhazy.
Scoring for the Orioles was Brett Holloway, Corey Bachutski, Colton MacPherson, Neil Kodman and Tony Sparvier. MacPherson also marked up two assists while Kodman also lent a hand on one other goal. Scoring for Esterhazy was John Lacny and Michael Kaczmar.
The goal by MacPherson at the halfway point in the second period will be one that will be talked about for years by those who were on hand to witness it. In what started out as a bad pass that went over the head of MacPherson near the Esterhazy net, it saw the former SJHL and WHL player grab the puck out of the air, drop it on the ice and while sliding across the crease on his knees, manage to score with a backhanded shot. The goal left Esterhazy fans in disbelief and had Whitewood fans in awe.
“The goal was fluky, don’t think I could do that again,” laughed MacPherson.
Speaking about the rest of the game, MacPherson said that the team played all right but at times they also got away from the style of hockey that they need to play to be successful.
“We have four games remaining till Christmas break so it would be nice to add a few more wins going into the home stretch,” said MacPherson.
The game saw three players ejected during the night, beginning with Esterhazy’s Randy Bot, who was handed a checking from behind penalty 11 minutes into the first period. Then just past the halfway point of the second period, a pushing match in front of Esterhazy’s net turned into a full fist fling affair that saw Whitewood’s Brandyn Wasyliw and Esterhazy’s Jon Urzada each receive a five-minute major and a game misconduct. In total, 50 minutes of penalties were recorded, with only five of those being two-minute minors.
The Orioles’ next game is Friday, Dec. 9 in Langenburg when they take on the Warriors at 8 p.m. The team will then host the Theodore Buffs in Whitewood on Dec. 10 in an 8:15 p.m. match-up.
Heading into this weekend, Langenburg and Theodore share first place in the league standings with five wins apiece, while Rocanville and Ochapowace are tied for second with four wins each. Whitewood is fifth in the standings, just one point ahead of Bredenbury and two points ahead of Kipling. Esterhazy is at the bottom of the league standings, still looking for their first win of the season after six games.
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