Chris Clegg
South Peace News
The defending NPHL champions might be out of their early season funk!
The Falher Pirates twice overcame deficits to score a 9-7 win at Fort St. John Nov. 15 against the Flyers. The win evened the Pirates’ mark at 2-2 and vaulted them in a three-way tie for fourth in the standings.
Of course, adding some returning players certainly helped. Brett Edwards, playing in only his second game of the season, scored twice and added two assists before being punted early in the third period. Isaiah Letendre also scored twice but it was Joseph Sylvain who netted the hat trick in his first game of the season. Eric Dentinger and Josh Sylvain scored the other goals.
Dentinger and Joseph Sylvain gave the Pirates at 2-0 lead in the first 8:07.
However, Aiden Craig-Steele and Cayle Bell replied to tie the game after one period.
In the second period, Dawson Phillips gave the Flyers the lead in the first minute before Letendre tied it.
Nick Loewen’s power play goal gave the Flyers a 4-3 lead, then Bell scored and the Flyers were up two.
But queue the comeback! Edwards scored twice in the final eight minutes of the third period to tie the game 5-5, the second goal coming on a power play.
In the third period, the game was decided in a 43-second span which saw the Pirates explode for three goals. Joseph Sylvain scored twice with Josh Sylvain scoring in-between the Pirates led 8-5.
To their credit, the Flyers did not give up. Alex Nimmo scored with 8:11 remaining, then Philips made things interesting as he scored with 2:21 left to make it 8-7.
Letendre’s goal with 50 seconds left secured the win but not on an empty net. He scored on a penalty shot.
The Pirates were outshot 53-34 as goaltender Chris Key made 46 saves to record the win for the Pirates.
The Pirates scored on two of three power play chances while the Flyers scored on one of four chances.
The Pirates host the Valleyview Jets Nov. 22 before going to High Prairie Nov. 28.
Along with Manning and Fox Creek, Falher has played fewer games (four) than any team.