The Rideout Construction Midget Tier 2 Chiefs have wrapped up a successful start to the 2013-2014 hockey season as they head into the Christmas Break.
The Chiefs were in Nanaimo on Saturday to take on the Nanaimo T2 Clippers at Frank Crane Arena. The Chiefs struck first on a goal by Dominic Dietrich with the assist going to Austin Bitten. Austin Pigeon netted the second goal (assists to Bitten, Sam Garrood) to put the Chiefs up 2-0 at the ice clean.
Harrison Merriam made it 3-0 with the assist to defenceman Nick Crookall, but Nanaimo scored their first goal at the end of the second period. Evan Whitehead (assists to Linden Lennox, Merriam) lit the lamp at the beginning of the third period on a delayed penalty with six attackers on the ice.
The Chiefs got into penalty trouble at the 14-minute mark of the third and Nanaimo capitalized, scoring three unanswered goals to tie the game. The Chiefs would not give up when Jonathan Jestico rushed the puck up the ice and made a beautiful pass to Whitehead who buried it past the Nanaimo goaltender with 19 seconds left to make it a 5-4 final.
Goaltender Eric Taccogna made some key saves and was solid between the pipes to get the win. Defenceman Patrick Smalley played a strong game penalty killing, as well as wingers Liam Chaba and Kevin Lebrun.
ICE CHIPS The Midget T2 Chiefs thank their sponsor Rideout Construction, coach Gord Lennox, and assistant coaches Jess Sekulich and Dave Schultz … the Chiefs' next action takes place Jan. 3-5 when they host their home tournament at Sports Centre #1 …
– Rideout Construction T2 Midget Chiefs