CARLYLE - It was one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent Big Six Hockey League history as the visiting Yellow Grass Wheat Kings defeated the hometown Carlyle Cougars 6-5 in overtime.
First period goals by newcomers Gavin Froese and Koby Morrisseau made it 2-0 Cougars after 20 minutes. Yellow Grass stormed back in the second, notching three. Cougar veteran Brett Turgeon tied the game late in the middle frame and it was 3-3 after two.
It was a third period for the ages. Early on, Derek Fleck scored a pretty goal cleaning up on a Turgeon breakaway, giving the Cougars the lead. With less than three to play, Yellow Grass tied it up. A short time later, Froese scored his second of the night for what appeared would be the game winner. It was not to be.
The final 80 seconds of regulation play brought loads of excitement. For the next 50 seconds, Carlyle bottled up the White Kings and they weren’t able to pull their goaltender. Finally, with 30 seconds remaining, a faceoff occurred at centre ice and Yellow Grass called their timeout.
The puck was finally shot into the Cougar zone. With loads of pressure, a physical altercation occurred in the far corner. Yellow Grass was awarded a power play, but with only 5.4 seconds remaining, the puck drop occurred at the blue line. Victory appeared imminent.
Not so fast. Two quick passes the Wheat Kings miraculously tied the game at fives with only 1.4 seconds to play. Yellow Grass captain Mike Onstad scored late in the five-minute overtime and the Cougars lost a heartbreaker 6-5.
Froese was the Cougar’s best player on this night. This smooth skating defenceman comes from Manitoba and is employed at the PIC hog barn being built southeast of Carlyle. Turgeon and Morrisseau also had strong games for the blue and white.
Doug Lumb is the coach of the Yellow Grass Wheat Kings. His grandparents were Doug and Mary Lumb, who lived in Carlyle and Kenosee Lake for several decades. The younger Lumb was a defenseman and played with the Cougars for two seasons in the 1990s, winning a league championship in 1996/97.
The Cougars will play their next three games on the road and then have a three-game homestand that begins Feb. 1 when they host the Bienfait Coalers.
