Thudium plays overtime heroe as Kings drop Trojans on graduating student-athlete night

Brent Forster - RDC

Red Deer, AB – In a game that featured several swings in momentum, more than 60 minutes was needed to decide a winner. Kings forward Chase Thudium opened the scoring and then in dramatic fashion salted away a 6-5 double-overtime victory. 

It was a gutsy win with most of the RDC squad battling illness.

"We had a tough week. We came back from Saskatchewan and more than half of our team has some kind of virus or respiratory thing," said Kings Head Coach Trevor Keeper. "We had guys that didn't even practice this week and had some pretty limited minutes because they were feeling sick."

The Kings' number one power play (24.4%) went to work 4:30 into the opening period. RDC defenceman Carter Wolski snapped it from the point and Sylvan Lake's Chase Thudium redirected it past SAIT goaltender Aaron Swier. Fifth-year centre Dylan Thudium recorded the other assist.

Then with 8:39 remaining in the frame, the home team took a two goal cushion. Captain Scott Ferguson skated the puck up the right side and dropped it back. Defenceman Trevor Costello made several moves in the offensive zone and beat Swier over the glove.

Costello (28)

Minutes later, RDC's power play struck again. Bienfait, Saskatchewan's Lynnden Pastachak skated from the corner to the edge of SAIT's net and fired it over Swier's glove.

Before the end of the stanza, the visitors reduced the gap to a pair. A point shot found its way between Kings goalie Arik Weersink's pads. Kord Pankewicz was credited with the marker.

About mid-way through the second period, Scott Ferguson restored the three goal margin. A shot bounced off the end boards, and the former member of the Spruce Grove Saints quickly deposited it into the right side of the cage.

Ferguson (17)

The SAIT Trojans climbed back into the contest before the end of the stanza. With under five minutes remaining in the period, SAIT's Colton McCarthy and Dylan Williamson scored within 15 seconds of each other, bringing the visitors within one.

At 14:33 of the third period, the Trojans knotted the contest 4-4. Zach McNeill went wide and tucked the puck behind an outstretched Weersink. Then SAIT's Jared Power cashed in after a goalmouth scramble, giving the visitors their first lead.

The Kings didn't quit. Regan Doig pulled the home team even with 3:49 left on the clock.

"The most important thing from now until the end of the year is finding a way to win," said Keeper.

In three-on-three overtime, Keeper pulled Weersink for the extra skater and Chase Thudium pushed RDC ahead 6-5, giving the hosts two points in the standings.

"Sometimes it doesn't matter what it looks like, you just have to get the two points. Even going into the last few minutes, down one, tying it up, going to OT, and we wanted to get it under a minute," said Keeper. "We just thought, let's pull the goaltender. It doesn't do us any good to give them a point or for us to be tied, so we gambled and went for it and it worked out."

The victory and two points turned out huge, as the MacEwan University Griffins defeated the NAIT Ooks 3-2. Third place MacEwan University trailed RDC by only a single point entering the game.

Chase Thudium was named the Collegiate Sports Medicine Kings Player-of-the-Game.

Zach McNeill received the honour for the Trojans.

The SAIT Trojans outshot the RDC Kings 45-27.

The second place Kings (20-5-2-0) will face-off against the fourth seed SAIT Trojans (12-10-2-3) on the road in the final regular season contest on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 7:00 pm.

Graduating Kings

Prior to the opening face-off, Dylan Thudium and Scott Ferguson were recognized in their final regular season game at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre. Both dedicated student-athletes from Sylvan Lake contributed positively to the Kings Hockey program, on and off the ice.

"They've been invaluable. Scott is such a good captain, a good leader, a leader by example, and a mature guy. Everybody looks up to his work ethic," said Keeper. "Dylan is such a smart player. He has a high hockey IQ. They're going to be really important for us from now until the end of playoffs."

Ferguson (17) and D. Thudium (13)