The Cranbrook Bucks are headed back to West Kelowna for Game 7 after a 4-3 overtime win against the Warriors for the team’s third win in a row.
Forward Jaden Fodchuk scored the game-winner 3:13 into overtime after jumping out of the penalty box.
“I saw him coming out of the penalty box and I wasn’t too sure how the puck went in but everybody started running to the corner so I thought I might as well join them,” said goaltender Carter Capton.
The Bucks also got scoring help from Noah Urness, Samuel Lyne and Julian Frias.
The team has fought back from a 3-0 deficit in the first round of the playoffs and defenceman Joseph Blackley said they knew they could.
“Everyone in this locker room had a strong belief in this team,” he said.
“All the coaching staff and the players, no one really had a doubt. We knew we could wear them down and grind away and here we are for Game 7.”
There is still one game to go and the Bucks can’t let the foot off the gas.
“The boys are pretty pumped but it’s important to keep it mellow,” said Capton.
“You can’t ride the highs and you can’t ride the lows. I think we have to go in with a good mindset here for Game 7 and hope for the best.”
And he’s not expecting the Warriors to go down without a fight.
“I think it’s going to be a gritty game with a lot of net-front traffic for sure,” Capton said.
“We just have to stick to our game plan and do what’s been working for us.”
Game 7 goes ahead on April 16 with puck drop at 8 p.m. Mountain time.
Something going on in your part of the Kootenays you think people should know about? Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].