The PHA U17 Prep Cougars took a 4-1 lead into the third period against their U16 Prep brethern but ended up needing an empty-net goal to hold off a comeback and take a 5-3 victory in Sask AA Hockey League U18 action at Barkman Arena.
It looked like it was going to be a fairly comfortable evening for the U17 crew with how things went in the first period, with a flurry of goals in the final five minutes seeing the older team build a 3-1 lead.
Drew Molde opened scoring with 4:45 remaining in the frame and was followed just over two minutes later by Chase Jocelyn for a 2-0 edge. Rowan Calvert got one back for the U16s with 57 seconds remaining in the period, but Davis Hunter would restore the U17 two goal lead with seven seconds remaining.
Brennan Blatz would score the lone goal of the second period at 9:16 on the power play to give the U17s their 4-1 lead.
The U16s wouldn’t go quietly, though.
Clark Furman pulled the youngsters back within two 2:43 into the third, and just over three minutes later would draw an assist on Carter Skarbon’s goal to get the U16s back within one.
That set up a tense final 14 minutes of play that was finally settled when Ethan Dekay scored the empty netter with 36 seconds remaining.
Dekay would also have two assists in the contest.
Mason Briske turned aside 25 shots to earn the win for the U17s, Austin Seibel had 32 saves to the U16s.
The U17 Cougars improved to 2-0 in the South Sask standings with the win and sit tied for second place, the U16s fell to 1-2.
The two teams are back in action tonight at Barkman Arena. The contest is sold out, but the contest can be viewed on @MyHockeyTV.
