RDP Kings strike in overtime to win ACAC Championship

Red Deer, AB – The Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Kings are back-to-back Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men's Hockey Champions.

The Concordia University Thunder pushed the Kings to double overtime, but Kings' forward Jaxon Steele ended game three 3-2 and ultimately the best-of-five championship series.

The RDP Kings opened the scoring at 11:41 of the middle frame. Captain Chance Longjohn picked up the puck at the hashmarks, drove wide and tucked it inside the far post behind Thunder goaltender Griffin Bowerman.

The Thunder evened the contest 1-1 with 12:23 remaining in the third period. On a five-on three, Kings goaltender Arik Weersink made the initial save, but Concordia's Isaac Leik was stationed in front and found the open net.

Then the Kings' power play went to work nine minutes later. Longjohn, a Second All-Conference team selection, skated behind the Thunder's net and sent it out front for teammate Erik Miller. Miller roofed it over Bowerman's glove.

With Bowerman pulled for the extra skater, the visitors knotted it up 2-2 with less than two minutes left in the third period. Concordia's fourth-year forward Brandon Wallis found room on Weersink's glove side.

In the second overtime period, Bowerman kicked out a shot from Kings' forward Dawson Leroux to the slot where teammate Jaxon Steele deposited the rebound into the open net at 7:30.

Weersink was named the North Star Sports Kings Player of the Game and the Playoff MVP.

Bowerman received the Thunder Player of the Game.

The RDP Kings went one-for-five on the power play.

The Thunder connected once on five opportunities with the extra skater.