Terry Chaffer (17) and Richard Renard of the Brooks Black Hawks converge on Greg Schimanski of the Fort Macleod Mustangs.
Tyler Bilodeau of the Fort Macleod Mustangs circles the net as Brooks Black Hawks goalie Bradley Bragger guards the post.
Terry Chaffer (17) and Richard Renard of the Brooks Black Hawks converge on Greg Schimanski of the Fort Macleod Mustangs.
Shae Ouelette of the Fort Macleod Mustangs attempts to check Allan Enns of the Brooks Black Hawks as he clears the puck.
Fort Macleod Mustangs will be fighting for their playoff lives next weekend in Brooks.
The Mustangs are down two games to none in the best-of-seven Ranchland Hockey League championship series after losing 9-2 and 6-5 last weekend on home ice.
Fortunately, the Mustangs have shown an appetite for life on the road in the playoffs, having won three times on the road in their semifinal series against Nanton Palominos.
The third game of the series with Brooks Black Hawks is 7 p.m. Saturday, March 19, with the fourth game set for a 4 p.m. start Sunday, March 20.
The Mustangs will try to extend the series to at least a fifth game, set for 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 25 at Fort Macleod and District Sports Centre.
The sixth game would be played at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 26 at Brooks, with a seventh and deciding game scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday, March 27 at Fort Macleod.
Brooks 9 Macleod 2
The championship series opened Friday night on a disastrous note for the host Mustangs, who had earned home ice advantage by finishing first overall during the regular season.
Brooks outshot the Mustangs 58-30 and scored four powerplay goals in a 9-2 win.
The teams were tied 1-1 after one period but Brooks opened a 4-1 lead through the second frame.
Fort Macleod cut the lead in half with a powerplay goal early in the third but Brooks scored goals less than a minute apart and added three more later in the period for the 9-2 win.
Mustangs goalie Cody Hall made 49 saves in the loss while Bradley Dragger, picked up from Nanton by Brooks when their own goalies were not available, made 28 saves.
Fort Macleod was assessed 56 minutes in penalties to the Black Hawks 34.
Chad Deunk, Cody Jensen and Geoff Tiffin each had two goals for the Black Hawks and Richard Renard, Cole Smith and Chad Sewall had singles.
Greg Schimanski had a goal and an assist for the Mustangs and Michael Fruman also scored. Kevin Olson picked up two assists.
Brooks 6 Mustangs 5
Special teams proved a factor again Saturday night as Brooks scored three powerplay goals — including the winner — in a 6-5 victory.
The penalties were more evenly distributed on this night, with the Mustangs assessed 36 minutes to the Black Hawks 32.
The Mustangs took a 2-1 first period lead on goals by Darin Kay and Tyce Gallamore but the Black Hawks fought back to take a 4-3 lead after 20 minutes.
Brooks scored two powerplay goals early in the third period to open a commanding 6-3 lead but the Mustangs weren’t conceding anything.
First, Andy MacIntyre scored a powerplay goal with 7 1/2 minutes remaining.
Less than three minutes later Fort Macleod pulled to within a goal as Olson set up Call Marr for an even strength marker.
Fort Macleod pressed in the final five minutes but could not get the equalizer.
Deunk, R.T. Renard, Richard Renard, Damien Davies, Allan Enns and Terry Chaffer scored for Brooks.
Tyce Gallamore had a goal and an assist for Fort Macleod and Darin Kay, Fruman, MacIntyre and Call Marr had singles.
Jadon Porterfield had two assists on Fort Macleod goals and Tyson Thompson, Justin Donahue, Lander Marr, Cole Matson, Olson and Justin Van Herk each had one.
Lincoln Carriere faced 43 shots in the Fort Macleod goal while Dragger handled 30 in the Brooks net.
