Fraser Valley Thunderbirds hockey team is off to Kelowna to play the Okanagan Rockets in the B.C. Minor Midget League finals.
Mostly 黑马磁力 players, the team won the right to make the trip by beating the Cariboo Cougars in a hard-fought series over the weekend that saw the second-seeded Thunderbirds prevail over the third-seeded Cougars, with two of the games decided in overtime.
Head coach Travis Oddy anticipated a hard fight based on the two previous encounters with the Cariboo team this season, and the rival players did not disappoint.
Game one on Friday (March 8) went to the Cougars, but they had to work for it, claiming a 5-4 victory in overtime.
Game two went into double overtime before the Thunderbirds took their 3-2 win.
鈥淟iterally, one goal can end our season [in that situation],鈥� Oddy said.
鈥淟uckily, we were the ones to score that goal.鈥�
By game three, Thunderbird players could sense victory was near, the coach said.
鈥淭here was a different energy in the room,鈥� Oddy said.
鈥淥ur guys felt like they were in control.
They were indeed, winning 4-1.
What a great series, but the prevail and move on to the BC Minor Midget Championships next weekend vs the
鈥� Minor Midget Thunderbirds (@mmThunderbirds)
Oddy believes the series against number one seeded Okanagan Rockets is going to be a close one, but the Kelowna players can be beaten.
Thunderbirds have already proven it this season, he said.
鈥淲e鈥檝e met them (Kelowna) once before in a three game series and we took the series. Both games that we won were one-goal games.
鈥淏asically, what we鈥檙e expecting is a tight series and games. It could be a goal either way [that make a difference].鈥�
READ MORE: Fraser Valley Thunderbirds take silver at Acura Winter Classic
All the championship games will be played in Kelowna, the top seed in the league.
On Saturday (March 16th), game one goes at the Rutland East arena at 1 p.m., game two is Sunday (March 17th) at Rutland, 3:15 p.m. and, if needed, game three will be Monday (March 18th) at the Capital News Centre at 1:15 p.m.
