By: Ellie Hazelwood
The Ottawa West Golden Knights had an insane and entertaining week, with many awesome highlights.
The Golden Knights started their week off at the Barbara Ann Scott Arena, against the Embrun Panthers, on Thursday night. The game was full of energy, and the Knights earned themselves a 4-0 win.
The boys brought a jump in their step to the game, as Will McCulligh hit the back of the net, just four minutes into the first.
McCulligh nailed another one, 19 seconds later, and the Golden Knights stayed up 2-0, by the end of the first.
Sam Stano scored seven minutes into the second.
A couple minutes later, things started to get a little chippy. No penalty could keep the Golden Knights down though, as they stayed strong, fought hard, and didn’t give up a goal.
Jason Ward scored with a few minutes left in the second, to put the Knights up 4-0.
It was an entertaining period, and the beginning of things getting feisty.
“Coach came in after the second, and told us to play smart, stay out of the dirty stuff,” Dylan Murdoch said. “And just do our thing.”
The Golden Knights had their plan established on how to deal with the level of feisty going on the game, but the Panthers kept the chippy energy.
No goals in the third period, but it was a chaotic period, in the best way possible.
Penalties for both teams, scrums, and a full-on fight between Golden Knight Max Shewfelt, and Panther Samuel Chirico, are what made up the final period.
“I just kept my head down, and tried not to get involved with the dirty stuff,” Murdoch said. “But yeah, it got pretty crazy out there.”
Crazy and chippy energy always make a game entertaining.
The Golden Knights broke another record on Thursday night. Dustin Riff earned his ninth shutout of the season. His shutout broke the record for the most shutouts on an EOJHL team, having 13 between Riff and Carter Overhoff.
It was an amazing game, with incredible highlights.
The Knights took part in the first ever EOJHL Winter Classic game, against the Ottawa Junior Canadians, at the Jim Tubman Sens Rink.
It was a cold one outside, but it was so worth it for the entertaining game that followed.
The Golden Knights unfortunately fell short 4-3 in overtime, but they fought hard, and played really well, despite the end results.
The energy at the first Winter Classic was radiant. Everyone was hyped up.
“The atmosphere was amazing. It was a lot of fun,” Shewfelt said. “It was just really cool to see the league come together like that.”
That fun and hyped aura carried throughout the entire game.
The Knights opened the scoring, with a power play goal from Murdoch.
The Canadians got one, but the boys responded a couple minutes later, as Thomas Dickey hit the back of the net, giving the Golden Knights their lead back.
The period ended, with the Knights up 2-1.
When the second period came to an end, the score was tied at two.
Shewfelt nailed one 11 minutes into the third, and just like that, the Knights were up 3-2.
“It was just a huge play by the boys. Weido with an unreal pass,” Shewfelt said. “I just kind of had the easy job of putting it in the net.”
It was for sure a clutch goal, and a nasty assist from Connor Weirdo, on that play.
3-3 was the score with two minutes left in the final period of regulation. Then, off to OT.
The Golden Knights had close chances in OT, including one that bounced right off the crossbar.
Even though the Knights fell in overtime, it was still such a good game. The boys played really well, and Overhoff stayed strong in net with 29 saves.
It was an amazing first Winter Classic game. The boys just need to be a goldfish, and look onward to the games ahead.
The week overall was wonderful, and hyped, with two games full of energy, and positivity for the Ottawa West Golden Knights.
