By: Riley Pollock – 04-02-23
The Riggers were involved in another tight game Saturday, this time coming away with the 12-11 OT win over the Thunderbirds.
Calgary climbs to 4-3 on the season while Halifax drops to 4-4.
It was a quick start for the Thunderbirds, they made it 1-0 on their second possession of the night.
Calgary would counter on their first powerplay chance of the night shortly after as Jesse King found Tanner Cook with a behind the back pass and Cook finished it off to tie the game at one.
Halifax would regain the lead on a bounce shot making the score 2-1.
The Thunderbirds would score back-to-back goals shortly after to make the score 4-1 halfway through the first quarter.
Calgary would end the run as Ethan Ticehurst, who returned after a three-game absence, scored in transition to making the score 4-2.
Jeff Cornwall took a major penalty for boarding but, it would be the Roughnecks scoring twice short-handed as Haiden Dickson and Zach Currier got the two goals to tie the game 4-4 heading into the second quarter.
The Riggers would kill off the entire major penalty but Halifax picked up a goal just as Cornwall came out of the box making the score 5-4.
Halifax would add three more making the score 8-4.
Josh Currier would end the run and send the game to halftime, 8-5.
Zach Currier picked up his second of the night in transition to get things started in the second-half making the score 8-6.
Halifax countered with two of their own however, to lead by four, 10-6.
Dickson scored on a beautiful dunk on the powerplay to make the score 10-7 but, Halifax would regain their four goal lead making the score 11-7.
Zach Currier finished off his hat-trick and Cornwall scored into an empty net after Halifax pulled their goalie with 11-seconds left in the quarter, to make the score 11-9 for Halifax heading into the final frame.
Cook got the Riggers within one goal picking up his second of the night and making the game 11-10.
Calgary boy, Dan Taylor, found the back of the net to tie the game with 17.4 seconds left with the goalie pulled.
The Thunderbirds would attempt a shot on goal but missed, sending the game to overtime for the second straight week.
It didn’t take long for the OT goal to be scored as Cornwall picked up the ball off the opening faceoff and took it all the way to score his second goal of the night on an amazing twister, five-hole shot.
The Roughnecks picked up the 12-11 OT win.
The Riggers held the Thunderbirds scoreless through the final 18:29 of the game.
BY THE NUMBERS
Jesse King: 4a
Zach Currier: 3g
Jeff Cornwall: 2g, 1a
Haiden Dickson: 2g, 1a
Tanner Cook: 2g
Tyler Pace: 2a
Dan Taylor: 1g, 1a
Ethan Ticehurst: 1g
Josh Currier: 1g
Christian Del Bianco: 54 saves, 2a
NEXT UP
The Riggers have a double header at home next weekend. They battle the Saskatchewan Rush on Feb. 10 and take on Colorado Feb. 11.
