Huskies edge Flyers to advance to NWJHL semi-finals

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — In the most unlikely of scenarios, the Fort St. John Huskies had to wait until the last minute of their first-round playoff series to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

After surrendering a two-goal lead in the deciding game five of their first-round Strike Group North West Junior Hockey League (NWJHL) series against the Fairview Flyers on Saturday, February 14th, it was team captain Grayden Alexander playing the hero. 

With just 34 seconds left in regulation time, Alexander scored the game-winning – and series-clinching – goal to give the Huskies the victory by a score of 4-3.

Winning the best-of-five series three games to two, it sets the Pups up for a clash with the North Peace Navigators in the second round.

Huskies head coach Todd Alexander “took his hat off” to the Flyers, a five-win team in the regular season who pushed the NWJHL’s defending champions to the brink.

He told Energeticcity.ca the series showed his team can battle through adversity.

“[It was] an incredible push by [Fairview.] They played really well,” said Todd. “A lot of people are kind of frowning upon the way the series was, but you can’t take anything away from the way they played.

“They played their guts out, and that was a tough opponent for us.”

Huskies’ forward Ryan Ungstad opened the scoring in game five with a power-play score before the end of the first period.

After the Flyers tied the score at one in the second, defenceman Adam Bourgeois put Fort St. John ahead just before the middle frame concluded.

MacCoy Willms put the Huskies ahead by two early in the third period, before the Flyers staged a late rally.

Scores from Dawsyn Pittman and Lucas Dallyn brought Fairview even, before Grayden’s goal in the game’s final minute.

Pivotal to the win was the fact the Huskies survived not one, but two five-on-three disadvantages – including one in the game’s final 10 minutes.

Overall, the Huskies took seven penalties, something the coach was adamant his squad needed to cut down on.

“We have got to do a better job with our discipline,” said Todd. “[Killing] both those five-on-threes are massive. Those really bailed us out of tough situations. Those are glorious opportunities for them, and it was nice to see us button down on that tonight.”

Next up for the Huskies are the North Peace Navigators, who finished second behind the Huskies in the regular season, and took a pair of wins in the regular-season series.

The schedule for the second round of the playoffs will be announced by the NWJHL this week.

More details about the Huskies are available on their Facebook or Instagram pages and website.