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Icehawks lose heartbreaker to Rebels 6-5 OT

Jan 24, 2015 | 9:40 PM

The Prince Albert Icehawks were 28 seconds away from putting together back-to-back wins for the first time this year. They had a 5-3 lead on the Southern Rebels from Assiniboia with time running out, but the Rebels somehow skated away with a 6-5 overtime win.

The Icehawks gave up two late goals, to Trey Tendler with 28 seconds left, and Devin McConigal with just nine seconds left in the game. Then Rebels assistant captain Derek Thomas ended the game wide open in front of the net three minutes into overtime.

The Icehawks entered this weekend on a 16-game losing streak, but ended that with a 5-4 win over the Regina Silver Foxes on Friday at the Kinsmen. They were agonizingly close to getting that two-game win streak, but will have to settle for the single point. The Icehawks are 5-23-2 now on the season.

First period

Icehawks forward Brendon Boyer opened the scoring early into the first, finishing a 2-on-1 rush after receiving a cross-crease feed from Justice Gardipy. The Rebels answered with a goal from Trey Tendler on a two-man advantage as the Icehawks got into penalty trouble late in the period. Tendler was a former member of the Moose Jaw Generals who hosted the Telus Cup national midget AAA championship in April.

The Rebels dominated the first period in terms of possession and shot volume, outshooting the Icehawks 23-9 in the frame but Icehawks goaltender Tyler Gordon was quite sharp to keep it tied.

Second period

The Icehawks stormed out of the gates in the second, getting two goals within the first five minutes in the period to take a 3-1 lead. Shane Regier scored on a sharp angle just 50 seconds in, before Brendon Boyer spun, fired and went bar-down at the five-minute mark.

The Rebels got back within one at the midpoint of the period as Devin McConigal knocked the water bottle off the net to make it 3-2, but Icehawks forward Jack Green made it a 4-2 game with a bar-south effort of his own.

Midway through the period, captain Brett Boyer blocked shot and was writhing in pain in the corner. He was escorted straight to the dressing room, but he only missed about three minutes of game time. When he returned, it didn’t like the injury affected him much. In fact, he earned his side a penalty shot 1:38 left in the period, but was turned aside by Rebels goaltender Braedyn Lysak.

Rebels forward Ty Eklund made it a 4-3 game with 45 seconds left in the second with a long-distance goal Tyler Gordon would like to have back.

Third period

Despite the fact he was hobbled earlier, Brett Boyer scored just 2:06 into the third period to keep the Icehawks up a pair, 5-3.

The score stayed that way until Rebels forward Trey Tendler scored his second of the game with 28.6 seconds left in the game, then Devin McCognial scored 20 seconds afterwards to dramatically tie up the game and force overtime. Derek Thomas ended the game two minutes into the extra frame.

Three homers in three nights

The Icehawks will end their three-game homestand Sunday afternoon with a contest against the West Central Rage 2:30 p.m. at the Kinsmen.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea