Griffins edge Kings in double overtime, RDC earns a point

Brent Forster - RDC, with information from Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics

Edmonton, AB – After all three games of last season's semi-final between the RDC Kings and MacEwan University Griffins went into extra time, it was no surprise that the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men's Hockey season opener between the two squads needed overtime to decide a winner. The Kings held a 2-1 edge in the third period, but the Griffins tied the game with seven minutes remaining. The home team eventually connected in double overtime, picking up a 3-2 decision.

The Kings had an outstanding start, firing 21 shots at Marc-Olivier Daigle, but the fifth-year goaltender stood tall. 

As MacEwan's defence bent but didn't break under a withering attack from the Kings' veteran-laden lineup early in the contest, Daigle's best stop came in the first five minutes when he whipped out a pad to rob six-foot-four left winger Mathieu Lapointe off a one-timer.

He made another point-blank save off Jacob Wozney early in the second.

Red Deer's pressure finally paid off eight minutes into the middle frame as Lynnden Pastachak, a Kinesiology student, banged a rebound past Daigle on the Kings' 23rd shot of the contest. Chase and Dylan  Thudium had the helpers.

Lynnden Pastachak (22) 

MacEwan rookie Jordan Taupert tied the game with 6:52 left in the second when he took a stretch pass from Zach Aston and walked in alone, ripping a short-handed tally top shelf blocker side past Kings goaltender Arik Weersink.

But the Kings regained the lead with 10:39 left in the third as Wozney came in on an odd-man rush and sent a snapper past Daigle. Ross Heidt and Boedy Donald recorded the assists.

Jacob Wozney (9)

Cam Gotaas tied the game with 6:54 left when he took a Payton McIsaac pass mid-zone, wheeled around and picked the far corner on Weersink.

When five minutes of four-on-four hockey couldn't produce a winner, the contest headed to double overtime.

Rookie Brayden Hyland took a give-and-go pass from Gotaas in three-on-three play and slid the winning goal through Arik Weersink's legs to deliver a 3-2 victory for the MacEwan Griffins in their home opener on Friday night at the Downtown Community Arena.

The Red Deer College Kings outshot the MacEwan University Griffins 42-31. 

The RDC Kings (0-0-1-0) picked up a point in the standings. The Kings will host the Griffins (1-0-0-0) on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.