Neepawa battles back to beat Waywayseecappo

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Published on Friday, October 19, 2018

By Eoin Devereux

Neepawa Banner & Press

The Neepawa Natives collected a huge 3-2 victory over the Waywayseecappo Wolverines on Wednesday, Oct. 17. Defensemen Noah Carson scored the game-winner with just 16.7 seconds left in regulation, knocking the puck in from mid-air after it bounced off the end boards. After the game, Carson told the Banner & Press what he was thinking as that play progressed. 

“I just drove to the net, trying to split the defense. I know we had we had a 3-on-2 advantage coming into [Waywayseecappo’s] zone. There was a shot on the net and it went just a bit wide. I was in the right spot and took a hack at it and lucky enough, it went in,” explained Carson. “I might have had my eyes closed on that, but it was nice to see it go in.” 

It was Neepawa who opened the scoring in the first period when Scott Mickoski notched a power-play goal. In the second, Waywayseecappo powered back with three consecutive goals, before the Natives were able to reply with Mickoski’s second of the night. The Natives would get one more chance to tie the game up in the second when they received a penalty shot, but couldn't execute on the opportunity. That left them trailing by a goal with 20 minutes left in regulation. Natives head coach/general manager Dustin Howden said heading into the second intermission, it would be the players themselves, who took matters into their own hands.

“It was just all [the players]. When we came into the dressing room for the second intermission, the room was alive in there. Despite trailing by a goal, the guys were feeling confident and hit the ice for the third energized. We’ve had a couple of game where we’ve been beat up fairly good, so it’s nice to get back to a game where we’re competing again,” said Howden.

Neepawa would strike early in the third period, tying the game off a shot from forward Cam Olstad. Carson’s late goal then secured the win, the fourth for Neepawa on the year. The next game for the Natives (4-6-1. 9 pts.) is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 2 against the Selkirk Steelers (4-5-1. 9 pts.). The start time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Yellowhead Centre.