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Pirates dominate Athabasca in provincial qualifier

The result was never in question. The only thing in doubt was would the Barrhead Bantam Pirates win the game and if so by how much. On Thursday, Feb.
Brendan Bujold beats his man in the offensive zone while killing a penalty.
Brendan Bujold beats his man in the offensive zone while killing a penalty.

The result was never in question. The only thing in doubt was would the Barrhead Bantam Pirates win the game and if so by how much.

On Thursday, Feb. 4, at the Barrhead Agrena the Pirates ensured themselves a spot in the next round of qualifiers to see which teams will make it into the Provincial Championship Tournament in the spring by defeating the Athabasca Hawks 11 to 7.

The night before, the Pirates defeated Athabasca on the road in what head coach Greg Scheffler called a dominating performance.

“We beat them 9 to 2 and just controlled every aspect of the game,” he said. “I think we outshot them something like 50 to 20.”

However, even though the Pirates would have had to lose Thursday’s game by eight goals in order not to advance to the next round, the who would win the game was in doubt, at least for a while.

The Pirates got off to a shaky start giving up an early goal in the first five minutes of the game.

Barrhead tied it up just before the half way mark of the period. Athabasca regained the lead 30 seconds later. The Pirates tied it up once again at the 13:15 minute. With just over two minutes left in the period Athabasca to go into the intermission with a 3 to 2 lead.

In the second period the Pirates took control of the game outscoring their opponents four goals to two. In the third period it was much of the same with the Pirates outscoring their opponents five goals to two.

“Even though we entered the game up by seven goals I told the team that we couldn’t take this game for granted and we needed to keep the pressure and they did. I’m so proud of the boys.”

The Pirates defeated Whitecourt in the first round of qualifiers and will play the winner of the Sturgeon-Stony Plain series in the next round.


Barry Kerton

About the Author: Barry Kerton

Barry Kerton is the managing editor of the Barrhead Leader, joining the paper in 2014. He covers news, municipal politics and sports.
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