Photo courtesy of Angela Burger/Calgary Roughnecks
The Oshawa FireWolves (5-11) visited the Calgary Roughnecks (4-12) in NLL action Saturday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.
Both teams have had their struggles this year, and were playing for jobs on next year’s squads.
For Oshawa, offensively they have been led by Tye Kurtz, Alex Simmons, Dyson Williams, Taggert Clark and Ethan Walker.
With Tanner Cook, Tyler Pace, and Haiden Dickson, Calgary has solid leadership. With Noah Manning, and Braydon Mayea having strong campaigns, the future does look bright for this Roughnecks squad.
The goaltending match-up had Doug Jamieson in net for the FireWolves facing Aden Walsh in net for Calgary.
The Oshawa Firewolves edged the Calgary Roughnecks in a thrilling, high-scoring showdown, pulling out a 10–9 victory in a game that swung wildly from start to finish.
Calgary came out flying, striking twice in the opening minute as Tyler Pace and Bennett Smith gave the Roughnecks a quick 2–0 lead. But Oshawa responded in a big way in the second quarter, powered by Alex Simmons and Ethan Walker, who helped ignite a four-goal run to give the Firewolves a 4–2 halftime advantage.
The third quarter turned into a rollercoaster. Calgary clawed back with a pair of power-play goals from Tanner Cook and Braydon Mayea to tie the game at four. Oshawa answered with three straight goals, including a solo effort from Tye Kurtz, to restore control at 7–4.
However, the Roughnecks refused to go away. A late surge—highlighted by back-to-back goals from Haiden Dickson tied the game 7–7 heading into the final frame.
In the fourth, both teams traded blows in a tense finish. Alex Simmons opened the scoring, but Calgary responded twice to even things at 9–9. With just over two minutes remaining, Tye Kurtz buried the game-winner, finishing a slick setup from Ethan Walker and Jackson Nishimura to seal the 10–9 Oshawa win.
To The Game:
After almost an entire quarter of scoreless play, the Roughnecks erupted for two goals in 0:09 seconds to end the frame. Tyler Pace opened the scoring on the power-play off a Tanner Cook pass at 14:20, followed by Bennett Smith finishing a Riley Isaac’s pass off a Justin Inacio faceoff win at 14:29.
After one quarter, Calgary 2 Oshawa 0.
Second Quarter:
The Firewolves took control of the game in the second quarter. Tye Kurtz scored on the power-play off an Alex Simmons pass at 1:30, followed by Simmons himself with a great individual effort to tie the game at 8:23 also on the man advantage.
Dyson Williams gave Oshawa their first lead of the night blasting a Ryan Benesch pass at 13:53, followed by Ethan Walker with a laser to the corner off an Alex Simmons feed with just 0:34 seconds left in the half.
At halftime, Oshawa 4 Calgary 2.
Third Quarter:
Calgary came out of halftime determined to claw back into the game.
Tanner Cook opened the quarter finishing a setup from Tyler Pace to cut the deficit to one at 0:51 seconds, followed by Braydon Mayea capitalizing at 2:40, both on the power-play.
Oshawa stormed back with Ethan Walker and Alex Simmons finding the back of the net just 0:54 seconds apart to restore the FireWolves two goal lead at 5:35. Tye Kurtz then added an unassisted tally to take charge of the game once more at 7:56.
However, Calgary had other ideas, putting together a flurry in the last minute and a half of the frame.
Tyler Pace scored on the power-play off a Tanner Cook feed at 13:29, followed by a pair from Haiden Dickson. The first off a Pace pass at 14:00, followed by Pace finding Dickson just 0:12 seconds later to tie the game.
After three quarters, Calgary 7 Oshawa 7.
Fourth Quarter:
Alex Simmons scored his third of the night to give Oshawa the lead just 0:13 seconds into the quarter, but Tanner Cook would even things off a Riley Loewan feed at 2:53.
Dyson Williams again gave the FireWolves the lead with a blast off a Simmons pass at 3:46, but again Tanner Cook would even the score finishing a Tyler Pace feed at 5:39.
For the next seven minutes the game went back and forth, with both teams having ample opportunities to take the lead.
Tye Kurtz finally converted an Ethan Walker pass from the outside at 12:32 giving Oshawa the late lead.
Calgary pushed, as they had done all night, but the FireWolves were able to turn away the final challenges for the slim one goal victory.
Final score, Oshawa 10 Calgary 9.
The Three Stars:
1. Tye Kurtz
2. Tanner Cook
3. Alex Simmons
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal favored Calgary 51-50.
- The faceoff battle went to the Roughnecks 16-7.
- The loose ball battle was won by Calgary 61-58.
- The FireWolves went 2 for 2 on the power-play, while the Roughnecks went 4 for 7.
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