The Airdrie Thunder claimed and exciting 5-4 win over the division rival Cochrane Generals at the Spray Lakes Sawmills Family Recreation Centre, Dec. 18.
Trailing 4-3 with 36 seconds remaining, Cochrane’s Jonny Pictin was able to find the twine behind Airdrie netminder Jeff Gardner, but a great feed from Thunder forward Alex Hustad to captain Cache Doolaege with only 15 seconds left would seal the deal.
The two goals, scored in a span of 21 seconds, caused a full range of emotions for both teams.
“We had played such a solid hockey game and to have them tie it with 30 seconds left was tough to see,” said Thunder head coach Darryl Einarson. “Our guys were very resilient coming back with Cache potting that one, and what a setup by Hustad with a tremendous pass.”
The loss was just Cochrane’s second of the season, both against the Thunder. However, Generals assistant coach Tanner Boothby says his team knows what it has to do to beat Airdrie.
“We did what we set out to do, we stuck to our game plan. That was just a lapse at the end, we let it slip away,” said Boothby. “The guys went nuts when we tied it, they were pumped up. It completely took the gas out of them when they scored the last one.”
The Thunder’s winning efforts came from a pair of goals from Kristian Petit, while Travis Wallan and Alex Hustad both grabbed a goal each before the Doolaege winner. Cochrane’s Jordan Davidson, Jason Labelle and Danny McSween also scored for the Generals.
Both coaches gave credit to Airdrie’s goaltending, as Gardner saw a total of 49 shots.
“The guy seems to steal games. He is such a big goalie you just have to roof it on him,” said Boothby. “We just didn’t get them up on him.”
“Gardner was awesome in goal tonight. For a guy to have exams all week and then jump in a pressure situation like this was awesome,” said Einarson. “A lot of out guys have exams or work, and for them to come out and win…I am very proud of them.”
The Thunder also knocked off the Mountainview Colts by a score of 3-2, Dec. 17.
The final regular-season meeting between the Thunder and Generals will be played at the Ron Ebbesen Arena, Jan. 7.
