By Clark Stork

Arnold forces overtime, scores game winner in SJHL classic

Apr 5, 2018 | 10:00 AM

The Nipawin Hawks and Humboldt Broncos went toe-to-toe Wednesday night, creating a classic Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoff game eventually won by Nipawin in triple overtime.

The back-and-forth game four contest featured three separate lead changes, a pair of blown two-goal leads and a penalty shot in the sixth period taken by the game’s eventual hero. Brandan Arnold scored at the 5:44 mark of the third overtime, giving the Hawks a three-to-one stranglehold on their SJHL semi-final series and leaving Nipawin a win away from their first appearance in the finals since 2001. Arnold said the game was one of the most thrilling contests he’s ever been a part of.

“It’s pretty exciting. It’s a great feeling inside that locker room right now,” the 20-year-old said after scoring his ninth goal of the playoffs.

The game started strong for the Broncos as Logan Schatz scored just 64 seconds in, giving the home team a 1-0 lead. Nipawin responded when Logan Casavant scored twice in the first period, giving the Hawks a 2-1 lead after the first. Jordan Simoneau made the score 3-1 early in the second, but the Hawks then put themselves in penalty trouble. Logan Boulet, Kaleb Dahlgren, and Nick Shumlanski all scored while Humboldt was on the power play, giving the Broncos a 4-3 lead. Conner Lukan scored with just 20 seconds left in the second, making it 5-3 heading into the third period. Arnold said the club wasn’t concerned by the two-goal deficit.

“We all stepped up, even when they got the lead at the end of the second we didn’t think much of it. We stayed positive in the room. Everybody did their part tonight,” he said.

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Gage Misskey pulled the Hawks to within one just after the four-minute mark of the third period. Arnold tied the game and forced overtime just prior to the halfway point of the period.

Minutes before Arnold scored on the power play to give the Hawks the 6-5 win, the Dodsland, Sask. product was hauled down on a breakaway, forcing a penalty shot. He was stopped by Jacob Wassermann after losing control of the puck. The Hawks created another power play chance moments later and Arnold said the club could feel the end coming.

“Right when we got the power play I knew we were going to capitalize on it after the momentum we got,” Arnold said.

Declan Hobbs stopped 57 shots in the victory. Wassermann took the loss, allowing six goals on 59 Nipawin chances.

Game five is set for the Centennial Arena in Nipawin Friday at 7:30 p.m.

clark.stork@jpbg.ca

On twitter: @ClarkStork