Ooks sweep Vikings en route to Championships

The NAIT Ooks host the Alberta Augustana Vikings for game two of a best-of-three series. The Ooks hold a 1-0 lead, and with a win tonight, they will compete in next weekend's ACAC Championships. 

The Ooks started game two right where they left off last night. Vikings had early trouble handling the Ooks forecheck. The Ooks generated a few quality looks, but Viking's netminder, Daniel Moody, was ready for the task. Ooks goaltender Ryley Osland was tested on the Vikings' man advantage for the first time but stood tall. In the latter half of the opening frame, the Vikings established their forecheck, and the Ooks were chasing in the defensive zone. The game remained scoreless after one. 

The Vikings carried the play early on with their relentless forecheck, working pucks from low to high and getting bodies to the net. However, the Ooks opened the scoring on their first powerplay of the night. Bryce Osepchuk with a beautiful look to find Mitchell Williams sitting back door. The Vikings returned to work, hemming the Ooks in their end in hopes of finding the equalizer. At the midway point, the momentum shifted entirely in the Ooks' favour. Williams got to work in the offensive zone creating two quality looks for himself, but Moody looked like the league's top goaltender, keeping his team in this one. The Ooks were having success off the rush. They had numerous opportunities to double their lead, including Eric Lacombe ringing iron. Finally, the Ooks beat Moody on a nearly identical goal as Williams'; this time, Drae Gardiner found Colin Schmidt. The Ooks took their 2-0 lead to the break and were only 20 minutes away from the ACAC Championships. 

At the start of the third period, the Vikings looked like a much better hockey team and started getting pucks and bodies to the net. You could sense the desperation as they were battling for their season. Although, the Ooks weren't sitting back and watching. They were pressing for more and had a few scoring chances of their own. As the period rolled along, it was a back-and-forth period, as neither team gave an inch. The Ooks were doing a tremendous job limiting the Vikings' second chances. Although the Vikings cut their deficit in half, thanks to Conrad Phillips' one-timer from the slot, they had life with just under three minutes on the clock. The Vikings pressed for the equalizer with the goalie pulled, but Drae Gardiner sealed it on an empty net. Ryley Osland was terrific down the stretch, and thanks to an entire team effort, the Ooks were going to Championships.