Natives beat Pistons in shootout
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- Published on Thursday, January 29, 2015
Photos by Eoin Devereux
By Eoin Devereux
The Neepawa Banner
Neepawa Natives coach Dwayne Kirkup has stated several times this season that the team is talented enough to compete with the best clubs in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. On Wednesday, Jan. 29, the players proved his point in emphatic fashion, with a 3-2 shootout win over the Steinbach Pistons.
The evening didn’t start off on a strong note for the Natives however, as Colton Veloso scored for Steinbach just 1:06 into the first period. Neepawa replied quickly as Riley Hillis scored just over four minutes later to tie the game. Stephen Mather and Jordan Martin assisted on the play.
Neepawa dominated the tempo of play in the second period, outshooting the Pistons 13-8. That effort paid off late the period with a goal from Riley Hillis, his second of the night, with an assist from Jordan Martin.
In the third, Steinbach pressed hard for the tying goal. While Neepawa played a very disciplined defensive structure, they were not able to hold onto the one goal advantage. Cody Longie notched a goal for the Pistons with just over six minutes remaining in the third. Neepawa almost reclaimed the lead in regulation as a late scoring opportunity that got passed Pistons goaltender Nick Deery, but struck the goal post, just missing the top corner.
The five minute overtime solved nothing and the game went to a shootout. Both teams sent four player out to shoot with Steven Phillips slipping the puck into the net for the game winner.
After the game, Natives coach Dwayne Kirkup said he was pleased with every aspect of the teams play. He noted this intensity is not new.
“I actually thought this effort was a followup to the game we played in Steinbach [on Jan.14], when they beat us 2-0. I thought though we lost that game, it was the most complete 60 minutes we’d played all winter and tonight was a complete followup,” said Kirkup. “We’ve played so well as of late and though the results have not been what we’d wanted, there was still belief in the dressing room.”
With the win, Neepawa snaps a five game losing streak and improves to 12-33-2 on the season, with 26 points. The next game for the Natives is Friday, Jan. 30, in Waywayseecappo against the Wolverines. The next home game will be Wednesday, Feb. 4, against Wayway.
