In an overtime goal, Williams Lake Mustangs beat the Spokane Chiefs 5-4 on home ice Saturday, Nov. 9.
Declan Pockock, delivered the winning goal in the first minute of overtime, making it his second goal of the night.
Mustangs goalie Alex Jessey earned his keep, facing 57 shots on goal compared to the Chiefs' goaltender who faced 44.
It was a great evening of hockey, that kept the crowd engaged and shouting enthusiastically 'Go Stangs Go.'
After a rocky start of the game, with Owen Ames of the Chiefs getting the first goal at 18:54, Matthew Keylor answered back in less than a minute at 19:58 scoring for the Mustangs, with assists by JP Desabrais and Asher Lucas.
That goal seemed to give the Mustangs the momentum they needed for the rest of the game.
In the second period, Garrett Feeney scored the Mustangs' second goal at 3:54, Madden Aubie and Logan Hauk assisting, followed up with another goal by Kaelen Swanson at 19:00, again assisted by Logan Hauk.
The third period would prove to be a bit of a comeback for the Chiefs.
Chiefs player Jason Grey, with Ben Humphreys assist, scored at 3:21, followed by Deegan Sellars, Owen Ames assist, at 8:07.
At the 10:27 mark, Pocock scored his first goal, assisted by Asher Lucas bringing the score to 4-3 for the Mustangs.
With less than four minutes left in the game, Connor Ellingsen, Deegan Sellers assist, tied the game for the Chiefs.
Ending with the 4-4 the game went into a five-minute overtime, with three players and a goalie on each side competing.
When Declan Pocock scored 42 seconds into the overtime, the crowd erupted and the Mustangs celebrated in one big bunch on the ice, followed by skating toward the crowd banging there sticks against the glass, with broad smiles all around.
As the Spokane Chiefs are an American team, flag carriers at the beginning of the game displayed both the Canadian and the American flags as well as the Mustangs flag.
There was also the singing of both national anthems, performed by Samantha Fredette.
It was the only time the Mustangs will play Spokane during the 2024/2025 regular season.
Next in Kootenay Junior International Hockey League action, the Mustangs are playing out of town.
They will play Kelowna on Friday, Nov. 15 and Sicamous on Saturday Nov. 16.
Their next home games are Friday, Nov. 22 against Revelstoke and Saturday, Nov. 23 against 100 Mile House.
