Huskies get hard earned split of games against North Peace

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Fort St. John Huskies are playing a much-improved North Peace Navigators squad from a year ago, and it showed in the opening two games of their playoff series.

Hosting the opening two games of the Strike Group North West Junior Hockey League (NWJHL) east/west division finals, the Pups dropped game one by a score of 5-4 in overtime before winning game two 3-2 in overtime before heading to Alberta for game three.

In the opening game on Friday, February 20th, the Huskies surged out to an early lead led by goals from captain Grayden Alexander.

But the Navigators came back, scoring three unanswered goals throughout the first and second periods before Huskies defenceman Adam Bourgeois tied it in the third at 3-3.

The Navigators again took a 4-3 lead before MacCoy Willms drew the Huskies level in the waning minutes of regulation.

However, the Pups would fall in overtime on a goal by Karter Fournier, and North Peace left with a 1-0 series lead, by a score of 5-4.

The following evening at the North Peace Arena, the Huskies had 52 total shots on net, but had to come back in the third period yet again.

NWJHL all-star goaltender Evan Norman gave Fort St. John all they could handle. The Navigators built a two-goal lead, with Ryan Ungstad scoring for the Huskies in the second period.

In the third, the game remained at the same score before Huskies regular season goal leader Xavier Burgher tied the contest, setting the stage for another overtime thriller.

Willms played the hero, scoring just over three minutes into overtime as the Huskies took game two by a score of 3-2.

The series will head to the Baytex Energy Centre for games three and four, starting on Saturday, February 28th, at 8 p.m. in Peace River.

The series will have an afternoon game on Sunday, March 1st, beginning at 3:30 p.m. More information about the Huskies is on the team’s Facebook and Instagram pages or website.