Ooks edge Kings in Edmonton

Brent Forster - Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics

Edmonton, AB - Only one goal separated the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings and NAIT Ooks Saturday evening.

Down by three in the third period, the Kings made a charge, striking twice in the latter half of the final frame, but they couldn't pull even. The home team picked up a 6-5 decision. 

The visitors hit the scoreboard first. On the power play, Hayden Clayton quickly converted a rebound past Ooks goaltender Westin Cardwell. It was Clayton's third goal and fifth point of the season.

Sylvan Lake's Clayton (7)

Shortly after, Tyler Robertson skated into the high slot and beat Kings goalie Arik Weersink on the glove side to knot the contest 1-1. Before the end of the frame, Jayden Platz tacked on the Ooks' second marker.

In the second period, the teams traded goals. Brenden Klatt gave NAIT a 3-1 edge. Then the Kings struck again on the man advantage. Jacob Kendall carried the puck up the right side and tried to jam it past Cardwell, but Tucker Scantlebury deposited the rebound into the cage. 

Scantlebury (77) scored his fifth goal

Nicholas Leyer restored the home team's two goal cushion at 7:03 and over eight minutes later the Kings responded. On a five-on-three power play, the puck squirted to Mathieu Lapointe on the right side and the six-foot-four forward quickly released it into the back of the net, pulling the Kings within one.

The NAIT Ooks went up 6-3 just over four minutes into the third period. 

Sean Michalevich brought the Kings within a pair at 13:27 and then defenceman Jantzen Leslie made it a 6-5 contest. 

Weersink was pulled for the extra attacker, but the Kings couldn't find the equalizer.

Kendall was named the Kings Player of the Game. Colby Livingstone picked up the award for the Ooks. 

Weersink made 35 saves. Cardwell turned aside 33 shots. 

The Kings' special teams were strong, scoring on three-of-seven power play opportunities. They also killed off all five of the Ooks' opportunites with the extra skater.

The third place Red Deer Polytechnic Kings (6-3-2-1) will play the fourth seed Trojans (6-5-0-1) at SAIT on Friday, February 18 at 7 pm.