The Lite-Way Electric Thunder won the game but lost the series in provincial midget AA playoff action Thursday night at Kinsmen Arena.
The Prince Albertans defeated the visiting Meadow Lake Stampeders 7-6 in Game 2 of their two-game, total-goal series, which Meadow Lake won 12-11.
“It was a good effort, but we fell one goal short,” said Thunder coach Kim Dryka. “We ran into a hot goalie (Austin Rediron). We fired 61 shots at him (Thursday) night. In the two games, he probably faced 100 shots.”
The Thunder trailed 4-2 entering the third period and came back to win the game, but narrowly lose the second-round series.
Thunder forward Jeremy Margeson netted a hat trick to give him five goals in the series, including a pair in Tuesday night’s 6-4 loss at Goodsoil.
“Jeremy had a good series,” Dryka said. “He’s a second-year kid and he came to play, for sure.”
In Thursday’s game, the Thunder outshot the Stampeders 61-25, but faced a red-hot goalie in Rediron.
“We’re pretty proud of the boys,” Dryka said. “They never gave up. We were down 2-0 after the first (period) and 4-2 after the second, and they still believed and stormed back. Getting five goals in the third was huge, but unfortunately, we fell one goal short. That’s part of hockey.”
The Thunder pulled goaltender Kyle Diakow with about a minute left, but couldn’t convert pressure into a goal that would have extended the series.
The other Prince Albert scorers were Khris Kalika, Brad Hoffart, Tyler Jobb and Franklin Cooke, one of three affiliated players in the Thunder lineup Thursday.
The Thunder has five games left in the Centre-Four Hockey League regular season.
“We’ve just got to try to finish strong and get ready for league playoffs, and try to repeat as league champs,” Dryka said.
The Thunder visit the Warman Wildcats today at 2:15 in Waldheim, before returning home for two games: a 6:30 p.m. Thursday date with Humboldt at Kinsmen Arena and an 8 p.m. Friday clash with Watson at Steuart Arena.
