The Barrhead Bantam 1 Pirates won by the skin of their teeth on Saturday at the Barrhead Agrena, where they downed the visiting Leduc Bantam 1 squad 5-4.
The two teams were tied 2-2 after the first period, with Owen Stoik and Trysten Hallock scoring goals for the Pirates.
But Barrhead surged ahead after the second period on two goals while Leduc remained scoreless. Axton McCallum and JW Loughran each notched goals for the Pirates.
Leading 4-2, a fifth goal by Van Werenka gave Barrhead a comfortable three-goal lead. But Leduc battled back, and with just 3:13 left on the clock, they had managed to nearly erase Barrhead’s margin for error with two goals of their own.
Leduc emptied their net in the final minute of play in an effort to tie the score, but luckily, Barrhead was able to hold out and take away a 5-4 victory.
Loughran led the team in assists with three, while Trysten Hallock and Cesar Marquez each two assists. Riley Harrison and Hunter Hansen also contributed assists.
Head coach Robin Hallock said the Pirates had faced Leduc on Dec. 30 and tied them 6-6.
“It was nice to get a win to start the (new year) off. Hopefully, it’s a step in the right direction,” Robin said.
Otherwise, Barrhead is No. 1 in the league right now, having not lost a game all season. Aside from the tie on Dec. 30, they had previously tied Leduc 3-3 at the beginning of the year and Fort McMurray 2-2 on Dec. 1.
The Bantam Pirates were also set to play an away game on Sunday against Whitecourt. Results were not available prior to publication deadlines.
Robin said they usually fare pretty good against Whitecourt, adding, “It’s usually a pretty emotional game.”
